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Sg  ISTOBIOAL   SKETCH 

^^=%  OF  THE 

gj      NEW  LONDON 

■!tist  association, 

^^^  FROM   ITS 

RGANIZATION  IN  1817,  TO  1850. 
TOGETHER  WITH  A 

HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCHES 

UK  WHICH 

IT    IS    COMPOSED. 

Published  by  order  of  the  Association. 

so  were  tho  churches  established  in  the  laitli,  an-l  ' 


1  •/» _„__  1  Q        "o  were  tno  cimrciies  estaOl 
lHOrHlcl        increased  in  number  •laily"     Aeis'ltJ:. 

ional 

lity  BOSTON: 

i -UL.SS  OF  J.  HOWE,  39  MERCHANTS  ROW 

1851. 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH 

OF  THE 

NEW  LONDON 

BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION, 

FROM  ITS 

ORGANIZATION  IN  1817,  TO  1850. 

TOGETHER  WITH  A 

HISTORY  OF  THE  CHURCHES 

OF  WHICH 

IT    IS    COMPOSED. 

Published  by  order  of  the  Association. 


And  so  were  the  churches  established  in  the  faith,  and  increased 
in  number  daily,"    Acts  16  :  5 


BOSTON: 

PRESS  OF  J.  HOWE,  39  MERCHANTS  ROW. 

1851. 


Extracts  from  the  Minutes  respecting  the  collection  of  the 
Historical  Sketches. 

At  the  Session  of  1848,  it  was 

Voted,  To  request  the  Churches  to  furnish  a  history  of 
themselves  respectively,  and  report  to  the  next  meeting  of 
the  Association.  Dea.  D.  Bromley  was  appointed  partic- 
ularly to  remind  the  Churches  of  this  request. 

At  the  Session  of  1849,  it  was 

Voted,  That  the  History  of  the  Churches  sent  in  during 
the  Session,  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  Clerks,  (P.  G. 
Wightman  and  £.  R.  Warren  ;)  and  that  those  Churches 
who  have  not  yet  sent  in  their  histories,  be  requested  to  for- 
ward them  to  the  Clerks,  at  or  before  the  1st  of  June,  1850. 

Voted,  That  the  Clerks,  together  with  D.  Bromley,  of 
.Norwich,  be  a  Committee  to  obtain,  arrange,  and  present 
said  Histories  to  the  next  Association. 

At  the  Session  of  1850,  the  Committee  reported  the 
Sketches  ready  for  publication,  upon  which  it  was 

Voted,  To  authorize  the  Clerks  to  publish  3000  copies  of 
these  Historical  sketches,  and  an  outline  of  the  History  of 
the  New  London  Baptist  Association,  in  pamphlet  form. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH 

OF    THE 

NEW  LONDON  BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION. 

The  New  London  Baptist  Association  was  organ- 
ized by  a  Convention  of  Delegates,  assembled  with 
the  First  Baptist  Church,  Waterford,  October  21 
and  22,  1817.  The  following  Churches  were  repre- 
sented, viz:  —  Waterford;  First  and  Second  Lyme; 
First  and  Second  Saybrook  ;  Hampton ;  First,  Sec- 
ond and  Third  Churches  in  Colchester  ;  Chatham 
and  Haddam  ;  Montville,  Norwich,  New  London, 
East  Haddam,  Mansfield,  and  Lebanon. 

These  Churches  were  situated  West  of  the  River 
Thames  ;  and  acting  in  accordance  with  the  recom- 
mendations of  the  joint  Committee  of  the  Stoning- 
ton  Association,  and  the  Groton  Union  Confer- 
ence,* bodies  to  which  these  Churches  previously  be- 
longed, organized  themselves  into  the  NEW  LON- 
DON BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION.  The  venerable 
Samuel  West  was  appointed  Moderator,  and  Eld. 
Wm.  Palmer,  Clerk.  The  Introductory  Sermon  was 
preached  by  Eld.  Samuel  Cole,  from  Isa.  42:  4. 
"  He  shall  not  fail  nor  be  discouraged,  till  he  have  set 
judgment  in  the  earth :  and  the  isles  shall  wait  for 
his  law." 

*The  Groton  Conference,  and  the  Stoninston  Association,  were, 
the  same  year,  dissolved  by  mutual  consent,  and  organized  the 
"  Stonington  Union  Association,"  instead  of  those  two  bodies  ;  the 
New  London  Association  taking  the  Churches  West  of  the  River 
Thame  ,  previously  associated  in  those  two  organizations. 

2012453 


The  following  ordained  ministers  were  present  at 
the  organization,  only  one  of  whom  now  remains 
with  us  :  Zadoc  Darrow,  Francis  Darrow,  Asa  Wil- 
cox, Samuel  West,  William  Witter,  Amasa  Smith, 
John  Sterry,  Nehemiah  Dodge,  Daniel  Putnam,  Jon- 
athan Goodwin,  and  William  Palmer.  Eld.  Palmer 
is  still  a  member,  though  feeble  in  health,  but  was 
able  to  be  present  at  the  Session  in  Norwich,  in  3850. 
Eld.  Francis  Darrow  was,  also,  present  at  the  Ses- 
sion in  1850,  and  in  usual  health,  but  has,  since, 
(Tuesday,  Oct.  15,  1850,)  passed  away  to  the  Spirit 
land  in  the  triumphs  of  faith.  Bro.  John  Payne 
Sala  Post,  and  Eliphalet  Hilliard,  licentiates,  were 
also  present  at  the  first  Session.  Several  other  or- 
dained ministers  belonged  to  the  Churches  compos- 
ing the  Association,  but  were  not  present  at  the 
organization. 

Number  of  Churches  in  1817,  was  16;  Ordained 
Ministers,  17  ;  Licentiates,  6  ;  whole  number  of 
Members,  2044. 

The  first  Circular  Letter  treats  upon  the  subject  of 
Communion.  It  is  treated  in  a  practical  light,  and 
abounds  with  varied  and  rich  instruction,  worthy  of 
notice  at  the  present  period. 

The  objects,  sentiments  and  plan,  of  the  Associa- 
tion were  distinctly  set  forth,  and  marked  with  the 
character  and  spirit  of  that  period. 

11  We  have  learned,"  says  the  statement,  "  by  ex- 
perience, that  a  combination  of  Churches  is  both 
prudent  and  useful,  yea,  the  Word  of  God  informs 


us,  that  ltwo  are  better  than  one,  and  a  three-fold  cord 
is  not  quickly  broken.'  The  numerous  errors  that  are 
propagated  and  prevailing  in  our  land,  at  this  day, 
afford  a  striking  proof  that  such  a  combination  is 
expedient,  as  thereby  we  may  more  effectually  main- 
tain the  order  and  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints; 
our  acquaintance  enlarged  ;  our  union  increased, 
while  we  mutually  consult  each  other's  welfare,  and 
the  prosperity  of  our  brethren  in  general." 

In  the  plan  of  the  Association,  it  declares  further, 
that, 

1.  *  The  Association  shall  consist  of  messengers 
chosen,  and  sent  by  the  Churches."  A  nd  that,  "  their 
expenses  be  borne  by  the  Churches  that  send  them." 

2.  "  The  Churches  should  send  Letters  also  to  the 
Association,  mentioning  the  names  of  the  messen- 
gers, the  state  of  the  Churches,  their  increase  or 
diminution,  and  present  number  of  members." 

The  plan  also  states  the  manner  of  the  reception 
of  new  Churches ;  fixes  the  character  of  the  intro- 
ductory services  of  the  Annual  Meetings,  printing 
the  Minutes,  &c.  &c. 

The  following,  relating  to  the  Faith  of  the  body, 
is  the  closing  article  in  the  plan  : 

"The  Faith  and  Order  of  this  Association  are  ex- 
pressed in  a  Confession  of  Faith  put  forth  by  our 
fraternity,  in  Great  Britain,  in  1689.  Some  of  the 
principles  in  said  Confession  are,  the  imputation  of 
Adam's  sin  to  his  posperity ;  the  inability  of  man 
to  recover  himself;  effectual  calling  by  Sovereign 
grace ;  justification  by  imputed  righteousness ;  immer- 
1* 


aion  for  baptism,  and  that  on  profession  of  faith  and 
repentance  ;  and  reception  into  churches  upon  evi- 
dence of  sound  conversion." 

At  the  second  Annual  Meeting,  John  Sterry  was 
chosen  Moderator,  and  Wm.  Palmer,  Clerk.  The 
preceding  year  was  one  of  general  spiritual  dearth  ; 
and  on  the  whole,  the  numbers  decreased  fourteen. 
The  subject  of  the  Circular  Letter  was,  "the  Pro- 
priety and  advantage  of  union  in  Doctrine."  It 
closes  with  a  beautiful  tribute  of  acknowledgment 
to  Divine  Providence,  for  the  blessing  of  religious 
liberty.  "  We  congratulate  you,"  says  the  Letter, 
"on  the  kind  interference  of  Divine  Providence  in 
favor  of  Religious  Liberty,  in  this  State,  in  the 
removal  of  those  impediments  which  have  so  long 
laid  in  its  way;  but  God  forbid  that  this  liberty 
should  ever  be  perverted  to  licentious  purposes.  Let 
us  labor,  therefore,  to  cultivate  friendship  and  har- 
mony with  our  brethren  of  different  sentiments  as 
far  as  they  walk  according  to  the  word  of  God  • 
and  may  our  whole  deportment  in  the  house  of  God 
and  in  society,  carry  conviction  to  all  around  us,  that 
we  are  firm  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  and  faithful 
and  peaceful  in  Israel."  The  Letter  was  written  by 
Asa  Wilcox. 

At  the  Anniversary,  held  at  Montville,  in  October, 
1819,  Bro.  Wm.  Palmer  preached  the  Introductory 
Sermon.  Text,  John  13 :  17.  Bro.  West  was  again 
Moderator,  and  Wm.  Palmer,  Clerk.  Wm.  Palmer 
continued  to  serve  the  Association  as  their  Clerk,  till 
1842,  with  the  single  exception  of  the  year  1822, 


when  Ebenezer  Loomis,  Jr.,  was  appointed  Clerk 
and  Wm.  Palmer,  Assistanf  Clerk.  He  served  the 
Association  in  this  office,  to  their  general  satisfac- 
tion and  approval,  for  nearly  twenty-Jive  years,  when 
his  age  and  infirmities  induced  him  to  decline  the 
burden  further.  Much  credit  is  due  to  this  venera- 
ble servant  of  the  Lord,  for  the  faithful  manner  in 
which  he  always  made  up  the  Annual  Minutes,  and 
conducted  the  correspondence  of  the  Association. 

At  the  Annnal  Meeting  held  at  Hampton,  in  1821, 
Luther  Rice  was  present,  and  preached  a  mission- 
ary sermon,  from  Phil.  1 :  27.  After  which,  a  collec- 
tion was  taken  up  for  "Indian  Western  Missions; 
amount,  $12  16£."  Collections  had  been  taken  the 
two  previous  years  for  Misssionary  purposes.  The 
Association  commended  to  the  notice  and  patronage 
of  the  Churches,  the  Christian  Secretary,  then 
just  started  at  Hartford;  and  recommended  also,  the 
religious  observance  of  the  Fourth  of  July,  annually, 
as  a  day  of  Thanksgiving  to  God,  in  memory  of 
his  signal  interposition  in  favor  of  our  National  Lib- 
erty, and  that  a  collection  be  taken  up  on  that  day  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Indian  Mission.  A  resolution 
was  also  passed  at  this  session,  in  favor  of  Domestic 
Missions,  and  recommending  the  Connecticut  Baptist 
Missionary  Society. 

At  the  Annual  Meeting  of  1822,  the  first  collec- 
tion was  taken  in  behalf  of  the  ORPHANS  and 
WIDOWS  of  deceased  Baptist  Ministers  at  the 
close  of  the  introductory  sermon  ;  amount,  $11  81. 
This  session  was  marked,  also,  by  resolutions  in 


favor  of  Sabbath  Schools,  the  American  Baptist 
Magazine,  and  Missions  in  general.  The  closing* 
sermon  of  this  session  was  preached  by  the  venera- 
bla  Stephen  Gano,  of  Providence,  R.  I.  Text, 
1  Cor.  1 :  2.  The  subject  of  the  Circular  Letter  of 
this  year  was,  "  Predestination,  personal  and  uncon- 
ditional election."  This  letter  was  written  by  Elder 
Palmer,  and  is  an  able  vindication  of  the  doctrine 
in  question,  from  the  foul  aspersions  with  which  it 
has  been  assailed  by  its  opponents. 

Annual  Meeting  of  1823  was  held  at  Lyme.  This 
year  was  marked  by  an  accession  of  113  by  baptism; 
but  still  the  deaths,  exclusions,  and  dismissions  were 
so  numerous  that  the  aggregate  number  fell  short  of 
the  amount  with  which  the  Association  started.  The 
number  this  year  was  1971 ;  that  of  1817  was  2044. 
The  following  vote  was  passed  very  unanimously^ 
though  with  great  regret  for  its  necessity.  Elder 
Dodge  had  been  one  of  the  constituent  members  of 
the  Association,  and  an  able  and  earnest  laborer  in 
our  field.  His  departure  from  the  faith  was  prompt- 
ly met  by  the  good  men  who  then  led  the  hosts 
of  Zion. 

Voted,  That,  although  it  is  painful  to  us,  yet  we  feel 
bound  in  duty,  and  do  hereby  declare  Mr.  JNehemiah  Dodge 
of  JNew  London,  excluded  from  our  fellowship,  he  having 
departed  from  the  faith,  as  we  believe.  We  cannot,  there- 
fore, be  innocent  in  encouraging  him  to  preach. 

The  Circular  Letter  of  this  year,  (1823,)  is  some- 
what longer  than  usual,  but  it  is  an  able  vindication 
of  our  Lord's  Supreme  Divinity,  most  scripturally 


argued  and  defended.  The  session  closed  by  the 
Associational  Doxology,  in  the  stanza  with  which 
the  writer  of  the  letter  closes  the  same,  viz : 

"  Glory  to  God  the  Father  be, 

Glory  to  God  the  Son  ; 
Glory  to  God  the  Holy  Ghost, 

Glory  to  God  alone." 

The  Session  of  1824  was  held  in  Saybrook.  Ser- 
mon by  Esek  Brown,  from  Tit.  2 :  14.  That  of 
1825,  was  held  at  Norwich,  and  Simon  Siiail>  r  de- 
livered the  Introductory  Sermon.  Text,  Heb  12:  2. 
"Looking  unto  Jesus."  There  was  contribuled  at 
this  time,  $16  30,  for  the  Widow's  Fund.  The  As- 
sociation remained  about  the  same  for  several  years, 
increasing  but  gradually  the  number  of  its  Churches 
and  members.  In  J 830,  its  number  of  Churches  was 
18,  and  2164  members.  The  number  of  ordained 
ministers  this  year,  was  but  14;  and  5  licentiates. 
In  the  Minutes  of  1832,  there  is  a  full  summary  of 
the  Churches,  presenting  a  brief  outline  of  the  his- 
tory of  them  all,  which  must  have  cost  the  Clerks 
much  labor  and  toil. 

In  1835,  the  Association  re-adopted  the  Constitu- 
tion, and  specific  Rules  of  Order,  based  upon  the 
sentiments  and  plan  under  which  the  body  had  pre- 
viously existed.  Total  number  of  members  this 
year,  2307.  The  Minutes  for  1838,  contain  an  ex- 
tended view  of  "the  Missions,  Stations,"  &c,  of 
the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Baptist  General  Con- 
vention, commending  the  subject  earnestly  to  our 
Churches.      In  1840,  there  were  19  Churches;  18 


10 

ordained  ministers,  and  2202  members  ;  the  numbers 
having  diminished  since  1835.  The  Circular  Letter 
of  this  year,  -written  by  N.  Wildman,  was  upon  the 
theme  of  "Church  Music." 

From  1840  to  1850,  eight  churches  have  united 
with  this  body,  and  her  membership  has  more  than 
doubled  ;  the  present  number  being  4739.  The 
Church  in  Saybrook  has  been  dismissed  to  the  New 
Haven  Association,  leaving  the  present  number  of 
Churches  connected  with  the  New  London  .Baptist 
Association,  2(j  ;  Ordained  Ministers,  28;  Licen- 
tiates, 5.  The  whole  number  of  Ordained  Ministers 
who  have  been  connected  with  the  Association,  is 
116.  Seventeen  of  these  are  numbered  among  the 
Churches  originally  composing  the  Association,  and 
their  names  appear  on  the  first  Minutes  in  1817,  al- 
though but  eleven  of  them  were  present.  But  only 
one  minister,  (Elder  Wm.  Palmer,)  who  was  present 
at  the  organization  of  the  Association,  is  now  with 
us.  He  is  probably  the  only  original  member  now 
living.  For  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has  officiated 
as  the  Clerk  ;  and  most  truly  has  he  honored  his 
office.  He  now  resides  in  Norwich,  where  he  labor- 
ed for  many  years  in  the  pastoral  office,  with  much 
success.  May  his  declining  years  be  passed  in 
peace.  Three  of  the  largest  Churches  in  the  Asso- 
ciation, excepting  the  First,  in  New  London,  have 
united  with  it  within  the  last  ten  years.  The  Cen- 
tral Church,  Norwich;  the  Second,  in  New  London, 
and  the  Huntington  Street,  New  London.  The  Cen- 
tral, Norwich,  united  in  1840  ;  the  2d  New  London? 


11 

in  1842  ;  and  the  Huntington  Street,  in  1849.  Inter- 
esting Conventions  were  held  for  several  years  in 
connection  with  the  Association,  upon  the  subject  of 
Sabbath  Schools  ;  and  statistics  were  inserted  in  the 
Minutes,  of  the  condition  of  the  Schools  throughout 
the  Association.  But  for  several  years  this  practice 
has  been  dispensed  with  ;  and  the  Churches  have, 
generally,  ceased  to  inform  the  Association  in  their 
Annual  Letters,  respecting  the  condition  of  Sabbath 
Schools  among  them.  Sabbath  Schoo  >  exist,  how- 
ever, in  most  of  our  Churches,  and  are  useful  auxil- 
iaries in  advancing  the  cause  of  Christ  among  the 
youth  of  our  land. 

The  Association  has,  at  different  periods,  passed 
strong  resolutions  in  favor  of  the  various  benevolent 
movements  of  the  age.  Temperance,  Anti-slavery, 
Peace,  and  various  forms  of  Moral  Reform,  have  re- 
ceived attention,  and  resolutions  in  their  favor  are 
recorded  in  our  Minutes.  A  resolution  was  also 
passed  for  several  years,  disapproving  of  Secret  So- 
cieties, and  urging  Christians  to  abstain  from  uniting 
with  them.  At  the  last  Session,  held  at  Norwich,  in 
September,  1850,  all  resolutions  upon  Benevolence, 
and  Reformatory  subjects  were  stricken  from  our 
Minutes,  as  being  dead  and  inoperative,  and  the  fol- 
lowing substituted  in  their  stead  : 

Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  the  Pastors  of  this 
Association,  to  present  to  their  congregations  from  time  to 
time,  as  they  may  deem  expedient,  the  claims  of  the  various 
Missionary,  and  other  benevolent  objects,  to  which  their 
sympathies  and  support  are  demanded. 


12 

The  Concert  of  Prayer  for  the  conversion  of  the 
world,  is  commended  to  the  observance  of  our 
Churches,  and  the  first  Monday  in  January,  of  the 
new  year,  by  a  special  and  "standing  resolution." 

In  1848,  by  special  vote  of  the  Association,  the 
Churches  were  requested  to  communicate,  in  their 
next  Annual  Letters,  a  general  outline  of  their  re- 
spective Histories.  It  was  found,  however,  that  in 
1849,  but  a  few  Churches  had  complied  with  the  re- 
quest. But  the  Association  deeming  it  expedient  to 
carry  out  the  design  of  the  original  vote,  appointed 
a  Committee,  consisting  of  P.  G.  Wightman,  of 
East  Lyme  ;  E.  R.  Warren,  of  New  London,  and 
D.  Bromly,  of  Norwich,  to  correspond  with  such 
Churches  as  had  not  furnished  their  histories,  and 
endeavor  to  obtain  them,  and  arrange  them  for  pub- 
lication, and  present  them  at  the  next  annual  meet- 
ing. The  Report  of  this  Committee  is  published  in 
the  Minutes  of  1850,  and  the  Historical  Skethes  of 
the  Churches  are  herewith  subjoined, 

By  order  of  the  Association, 


HISTORY 

OT    THE 

1st  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  WATERFORD. 

The  Town  of  Waterford  was  known  until  1801,  as 
New  London,  of  which  it  was  a  part.  The  accounts 
of  the  early  movements  of  Baptists,  are,  therefore, 
put  down  to  New  London,  though  the  seat  of  those 
movements  was  in  those  parts  now  known  as  Water- 
ford.  The  first  baptisms  in  the  Colony  of  Connecti- 
cut, after  the  primitive  mode,  took  place  in  this  town, 
in  the  year  1674,  by  regular  Baptist  ministers  from 
Rhode  Island.  An  excitement  was  raised  on  ac- 
count of  it,  and  the  General  Court  was  invoked  to 
suppress  the  innovation.  Several  of  these  Baptists 
remaining  firm  to  their  sentiments,  on  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  1st  Baptist  Church  in  Groton,  in  1705, 
put  themselves  under  the  watch-care  of  that  Church  ; 
rnd  were  visited  from  time  to  time  by  its  pastor,  El- 
der Wightman,  till  about  the  year  1710,  when  they 
were  organized  into  a  distinct  Church,  which  is  call- 
ed, by  Backus,  "  The  Second  Baptist  Church  in 
Connecticut." 

For  several  years  the  Church  remained  destitute  of 
a  pastor,  but  received  the  occasional  visits  of  Elders 
Wightman,  of  Groton ;  Tillinghast,  of  Providence  ; 
2 


14 

Win.  Peckham,  of  Newport ;  and  others,  who  broke 
unto  them  "  the  bread  of  Life." 

Stephen  Gorton,  from  Rhode  Island,  commenc- 
ed visiting  the  Church  about  the  year  1720,  aad  was 
ordained  as  their  first  Pastor,  November  28,  1726. 
Previous  to  the  settlement  of  Elder  Gorton,  the 
Church  had  erected  a  commodious  house  of  worship 
on  East  Neck,  which  was  "  a  Bethel"  to  multitudes  of 
souls  for  more  than  a  century.  The  Church  also,  as 
it  grew  stronger,  purchased  a  parsonage,  including 
a  small  farm,  which  Eld.  Gorton  occupied  while  he 
remained  in  Waterford.  Great  success  attended  the 
ministry  of  Eld.  Gorton,  for  many  years.  He  won 
the  affection  of  his  people  at  home,  and  was  respect- 
ed abroad,  for  his  talents  as  a  speaker.  Under  his 
ministry  the  Church  rapidly  increased,  and  spread 
into  the  adjoining  towns  and  across  the  Connecticut 
River.  His  labors  greatly  promoted  the  progress  of 
Baptist  sentiments  in  Lyme  and  Saybrook ;  and  in 
1731,  "  a  branch  of  Eld.  Gorton's  Church  was  plant- 
ed in  Wallingford,  which  remained  under  the  watch- 
care  of  the  New  London  (Waterford,)  Church,  till 
August  20,  1739,  when  they  were  formed  into  the 
Third  Baptist  Church  in  Connecticut. 

The  preaching  of  Whitefield  and  Devenport,  in 
New  London,  was  attended  with  vast  success,  thous- 
ands hearing  the  word  of  God  from  those  devoted 
servants  of  their  Master.  But  amid  the  general  joy 
of  Zion,  and  increase  of  her  converts,  which  followed 
The  Great  New  Light  Stir,  (so  called.)  an  event  oc- 
curred which  threw  this  Church  into  trial,  and  pro- 


15 


duced  much  division  and  alienation,  and  subsequent- 
ly the  destruction  of  Eld.  Gorton's  Church,  and  the 
formation  of  a  new  interest.      That  a  minister  of  so 
long  standing  and  usefulness  as  Eld.  Gorton,  should 
permit  his  moral  character  to  be  compromised,  was 
so  astonishing,  and  sorrowful,  that  the  Church  was 
thrown  into  a  state  of  division.     The  majority,  how- 
ever, disbelieving  the  accusation  alleged  against  him, 
adhered  to  the  pastor  ;  but  the  minority  withdrew, 
and  subsequently,  at  about  1748,  with  some  new  con- 
verts, gathered  under  the  preaching  of  Eld.  Wm. 
Peckham  and  Daniel  Green,  formed  "  a  new  interest," 
which  was  recognized  as  the  First  Church,  the  old 
having  been  considered  as  out  of  gospel  order,  and 
lost  the  fellowship  of  the  other  two  Churches.      Eld. 
Peckham's  labors   were   highly  conducive  to  the  re- 
establishment  of  the  Baptist  cause  in  Waterford,  and 
in  vindicating  the  great  Baptist  doctrine  of  Religious 
Liberty.     This  venerable  apostle  extended  his  labors 
to  Saybrook,  where  he  "  baptized  both  men  and  wo- 
men," believing  in  Christ,  regardless  of  the  fierce 
opposition  which  met  him.      But  his  bold  and  open 
advocacy  of  Baptist  sentiments,  and  the  doctrine  of 
religious  and  civil  liberty  in  general,  procured  for 
him  and  the  intrepid  Green,  and  many  of  their  fol- 
lowers, a  lodgement  in  New  London  Jail,  for  several 
weeks,  in  mid-winter ;  and  where  they  were  allowed 
no  fire,  or  bedding,  and  but  insufficient  food. 

The  imprisonment  of  these  brethren  called  forth 
the  deepest  sympathy  from  many  of  "  the  Standing 
Order."     The  President  of  Yale  College,  Col.  Elisha 


16 

Williams,  issued,  immediately,  a  pamphlet,  entitled 
"The  Essential  Rights  of  Protestants,"  in  which  he 
gave  a  masterly  expose  of  the  intolerance  of  the  ex- 
isting Ecclesiastical  Laws,  and  advocated  the  Rights 
of  Conscience,  and  the  principles  of  Civil  and  Re- 
ligious Liberty,  which  have  in  every  age  been  cher- 
ished by  Baptists. 

This  Church  was  also  visited  from  time  to  time,  by 
Elders  Cooley,  Mack  and  Sprague,  whose  labors  were 
owned  of  the  Lord  among  them.  Eld.  Mack,  who 
was  ordained  in  Lyme,  in  1749,  over  a  separate  Con- 
gregational Church,  on  becoming  a  Baptist,  frequent- 
ly visited  this  Church,  and  carried  the  gospel  to  the 
Montauk  Indians,  on  Long  Island,  where  a  branch 
of  this  body  was  planted  among  that  tribe,  which 
continued  for  more  than  a  half  century.  The  names 
of  these  red  brethren  are  still  on  our  records. 

About  this  time,  (1752.)  the  attention  of  the  Church 
was  attracted  to  the  gift  of  Bro.  Nathan  Howard, 
one  of  the  constituent  members  of  the  Church,  who 
seemed  designed  of  the  Lord  as  their  future  pastor. 
He  was  called  to  ordination  and  the  pastoral  care  of 
the  Church,  and  for  more  than  twenty  years  served 
his  brethren  in  this  holy  office.  He  died  suddenly 
of  small  pox,  March  2,  1777,  aged  56  years.  The 
praise  of  his  life  still  lingers  in  the  Church.  Plis  oc- 
cupation in  life,  like  some  of  the  apostles,  was  that 
of  a  fisherman.  He  discovered  a  favorite  fishing 
ground,  now  well  known  to  navigators  of  the  Sound, 
which  still  bears  the  name  of  Howard's  Lcd>>-e.  He 
was  eminently  a  man  of  faith  and  prayer,  and  earnest 


17 

in  his  warnings  to  sinners  in  public  and  by  the  way- 
side. His  memory  is  yet  cherished  with  a  hallowed 
enthusiam  by  the  aged  pilgrims  in  Zion,  and  the 
precious  influence  of  his  pious  example  and  unwont- 
ed faith,  are  yet  in  the  Church  he  loved  so  much,  and 
served  so  long.  His  remains  were  interred  in  a 
burying  ground  given  by  himself  to  the  Church, 
which  has  since  been  enlarged  by  purchase. 

It  was  during  the  miuistry  af  Eld.  Howard  that 
Eld.  Eliphalet  Lester  resided  at  Jordan,  near  the 
spot  where  our  new  house  of  worship  is  located.  It 
was  in  this  vicinity  Eld.  Lester  was  born,  in  1730, 
and  here  he  buried  his  first  wife,  who  died  of  small 
pox.  He  had  been  awakened  and  converted  under 
the  preaching  of  Whitefield,  in  1745  or  1746,  and 
was  reputed  to  be  "  a  man  mighty  in  the  Scriptures." 
The  efficient  aid  he  rendered  to  Eld.  Howard  and 
the  Church,  previous  to  his  removal,  causes  his  name 
to  be  embalmed  in  the  early  history  of  this  body. 
After  his  settlement  at  Saybrook,  in  ]776,  his  fre- 
quent visits  in  these  parts  made  him,  under  God, 
the  instrument  of  much  good. 

Eld.  Zadoc  Darrow's  Ministry. — Zadoc  Dar- 
row,  the  third  Pastor  of  the  Church,  was  born  in  New 
London,  (O.  S.)  Dec.  25,  1728.  He  was  the  only 
son  of  Ebenezer  Darrow,  and  his  mother  was  a 
Rogers,  "a  lineal  descendant  of  him  that  was  burnt 
at  Smithfteld,  in  the  reign  of  the  bloody  Mary." — 
That  the  blood  of  the  martyr  flowed  in  his  veins, 
has  been  several  times  before  published  to  the  world. 
The  evidence  on  which  this  claim  is  based  is,  so  far 
2* 


18 

as  we  know,  undeniable.  Though  educated  in  the 
forms  of  the  Church  of  England,  he  had  never  en- 
tertained very  serious  impressions,  till  he  went,  out 
of  curiosity,  to  hear  Eld.  Joshua  Morse,  then  known 
as  a  great  ,lNew  Light  preacher."  The  thoughtless 
young  man  was  unexpectedly  arrested  by  the  impor- 
tant truths  he  then,  for  the  first  time,  heard  ;  and  after 
a  severe  struggle  with  the  pride  of  his  heart,  he  was 
led  to  embrace  the  Saviour.  Though  surrounded  by 
friends  that  despised  "  this  way,"  and  treated  his 
newly  adopted  opinions  with  worse  then  mere  con- 
tempt, he,  nevertheless,  boldly  confessed  Christ,  and 
was  not  ashamed  to  identify  himself  with  the  infant 
Baptist  cause.  Following  up  the  preaching  of  Eld. 
Morse,  whom,  it  is  said,  he  uniformly  went  several 
miles  to  hear,  he  persuaded  his  spiritual  instructer  to 
hold  meetings  near  the  city,  and  from  these  meet- 
ings, a  small  Baptist  Church  arose,  "  of  which,"  the 
account  says,  "young  Zadoc  become  the  first  dea- 
con." This  Church  secured  the  pastoral  services  of 
Eld.  Noah  Hammond,  and  attempted  to  build  a  Meet- 
ing-House,  just  West  of  the  City  of  New  London  ; 
but  things  wearing  an  unfavorable  aspect,  Eld.  Ham- 
mond accepted  a  call  from  a  Church  on  Long  Island, 
where  he  resided  some  twenty  years,  a  useful  min- 
ister of  the  gospel.  His  bereaved  Church,  from  the 
smallness  of  their  number,  and  their  proximity  to 
Eld.  Howard's  Church  at  Niantick,  was  dissolved,  and 
united  with  the  1st  Church.  The  accession  of  Dea. 
Darrow  and  his  brethren  to  the  body  of  which  Eld. 
Howard  was  pastor,  bears  date  of  about  A.  D.  1756. 


19 

His  views  in  regard  to  "mixed  communion,"  were 
said  to  be  rather  stricter  than  those  generally  enter- 
tained by  the  brethren  to  whom  he  had  now  attached 
himself;  and  this  accounts  for  his  attempt  to  estab- 
lish the  Hammond  interest.  But  in  1756,  the  old 
Church  seem  to  have  been  returning  to  their  original 
ground  of  admitting  only  such  to  the  communion  of 
the  Church,  as  "  were  baptized  into  it,"  according  to 
apostolic  usage.  Mr.  Darrow's  growing  public  gift  > 
the  well  known  "  good  report"  of  his  integrity  ;  his 
intimate  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  and  soundness 
in  the  faith  ;  his  undaunted  zeal  for  the  doctrines  of 
the  cross,  and  his  fearless  advocacy  of  the  rights  of 
conscience,  then  so  little  understood,  all  seemed  to 
lead  his  pastor  and  his  brethren  to  regard  him  as 
their  future  leader.  Unconscious  of  his  own  qualifi- 
cations for  the  sacred  office,  he  steadily  declined  re- 
ceivings ordination  till  the  failing  health  and  resigna- 
tion of  Eld.  Howard,  induced  him  to  give  way  to  the 
unanimous  call  of  the  Church,  and  entreaties  of  his 
beloved  pastor,  whom  he  finally  succeeded  in  office 
about  A.  D.  1775,  possibly  a  little  earlier,  as  we  have 
lost  the  exact  date.  Abenezer  Rogers  was  chosen 
deacon  in  his  stead. 

The  number  of  communicants  at  this  time  was 
small.  There  were  many  trials,  incident  to  the  pas- 
toral office,  which  the  present  generation  can  but 
faintly  appreciate. 

The  law  of  the  Colony,  which  at  first  enacted, 
11  That  no  persons  within  this  Colony,  shall,  at  any 
lime,  embody  themselves  into  Church  estate  without 


20 

the  consent  of  the  General  Court,  and  the  approbation 
of  neighboring  Elders ;  That  no  ministry  or  Church 
administration  shall  be  attended  by  the  inhabitants  of 
any  plantation  or  colony,  distinct  or  separate  from, 
and  in  opposition  to,  that  which  is  openly  observed 
and  dispensed  by  the  approved  minister  of  the  place, 
[i.  e.  "  Standing  Order."]  These  lav/s  had  been  so 
far  modified  as  to  secure  the  Baptists  from  open  per- 
secution, but  securing  little  beyond  it.  Eld.  Darrow 
witnessed  with  pleasure  the  catholicity  of  Messrs* 
Adams  and  Byles — successive  Congregational  cler- 
gymen of  New  London — men  ahead  of  their  times 
in  their  enlightened  views  of  the  rights  of  con- 
science—  who  did  not  permit  their  names  to  come 
down  to  us  as  the  abettors  of  those  petty  annoyances 
to  which  his  brethren  in  less  favored  parishes  were 
then  exposed.  From  these  and  other  streaks  of  light 
that  began  to  illuminate  the  horizon  of  the  Church 
of  God,  he  anticipated  the  not  distant  rising  of  the 
sun  of  Religious  Liberty.  But  there  was  a  darker 
shade  upon  some  parts  of  the  picture,  which,  at  times, 
led  him  and  his  Baptist  co-laborers  to  despond.  The 
process  of  exemption  from  taxation  to  support  the 
religion  of  the  State,  was  difficult,  and  often  extreme- 
ly vexatious  ;  and  there  had  grown  up  among  the 
"  steady  habits"  of  the  good  people  of  Connecticut, 
an  almost  holy  horror  of  dissenters  of  the  Roger 
Williams  school,  who  were  said  to  seek  the  under- 
mining of  all  the  staid  religious  institutions  of  the 
land,  founded  by  the  pious  pilgrim  fathers. 


21 

Tirne-honored  prejudice,  so  blinded  the  eyes  of 
many  good  men  in  the  church,  and  in  the  State,  that 
they  could  not  (it  seems  as  if  they  dared  not,)  dis- 
tinguish between  a  conscientious  opposition  to  relig- 
ious intolerance,  and  an  opposition  to  religion  itself. 
The  Baptists  of  Connecticut  were  then  few  in  num- 
ber ;  their  Churches  counting  less  than  twenty  ; 
their  aggregate  membership  less  than  a  thousand  j 
without  Meeting-Houses,  or  with  but  poor  apologies 
for  them,  located  at  a  most  obsequious  distance  from 
thickly  populated  points,  as  if  afraid  to  offend  the 
eye  of  the  multitude.  As  a  sect,  taunted  with  their 
poverty  of  this  world's  goods  and  honors  —  accounted 
but  illiterate  and  designing  men  —  they  felt  that  they 
were  made  the  common  pack-horse  of  all  the  sins  of 
all  the  opprobrious  sects  from  the  days  of  the  first 
Baptist  to  that  time.  In  addition  to  these  general  dis- 
couragements, there  were  some  special  trials  which 
Pastor  Darrow  had  to  encounter.  The  exciting 
scenes  of  the  Revolutionary  war  were  no  where  in 
the  land  more  strikingly  exhibited  than  in  this  patri- 
otic portion  of  our  State.  But  while  the  soul-stirring 
call  of  a  suffering  country,  aroused  the  patriotism  of 
all  good  men,  and  resulted  in  the  nation's  liberty  ; 
yet  the  war  was,  undeniably,  attended  and  followed 
by  an  alarming  increase  of  infidelity,  with  a  conse- 
quent laxity  of  morals,  which  were  felt  most,  where 
the  martial  influence  entirely  prevailed  as  it  did,  for 
a  long  time,  in  this  unhappy  region  ;  where  the 
treachery  of  Arnold,  the  abandonment  of  Fort  Trum- 
bull, the  sacking  of  New  London,  the   massacre  at 


22 

Fort  Griswold  ;  then  the  sight  of  families  flying 
from  the  city  to  the  country,  and  of  warriors  hasten- 
ing to  the  points  of  danger  —  all  together  had  fan- 
ned the  hitherto  gentle  flame  of  liberty  into  a  sub- 
lime and  sweeping  conflagration,  which  not  only 
threatened  destruction  to  the  common  enemy  from 
abroad,  but  menaced  the  quiet  fire-side  of  our  brave 
ancestors  with  a  more  insidious  and  not  less  danger- 
ous foe  at  home  —  Infidelity  —  an  ever-present  ally  of 
war.  It  regarded  not  the  sacredness  of  the  cause 
for  which  our  fathers  mingled  in  the  strife  of  arms. 
Infidelity,  keenly  scented  on  the  track  of  war,  like 
the  jackall,  on  the  battle-field,  cares  not  whose  cause 
is  just,  or  wbo  triumphs,  so  it  can  find  victims  to 
gorge  a  carrion,  craving  appetite. 

Against  this  new  and  formidable  enemy,  father 
Darrow  arrayed  himself,  conscious  of  the  power  of 
the  Gospel  to  subdue  the  hearts  of  the  wicked,  and  to 
roll  back  the  swelling  tide  of  skepticism,  which  came 
from  the  camp,  or  had  been  brought  from  France. 
The  gibes  of  the  open  unbeliever,  and  the  ribald 
songs  of  the  free-thinker,  made  both  pastor  and  peo- 
ple their  unblushing  butt  of  ridicule,  as  we  are  told 
by  men  who  remembered  the  shameless  songs,  and 
coarse  jests  of  a  large  class  in  this  vicinity,  at  the 
close  of  the  war.  It  was  at  this  time,  that  all  his 
energes  were  called  forth  to  stand  in  defence  of  the 
gospel ;  and  signally  did  the  cause  of  Christ  triumph 
in  that  day  that  tried  the  fidelity  of  his  people.  The 
discipline  of  the  Church,  which  the  war  had  affect- 
ed unfavorably,  was  restored  with  gospel  strictness; 


23 

the  articles  and  covenant  of  the  Church  were  care- 
fully digested,  and  placed  on  record;  mixed  com- 
munion formally,  as  it  had  long  been  practically,  re- 
nounced ;  backsliders  reclaimed,  and  scores,  from 
time  to  time,  brought  into  the  Church,  many  of  whom 
had  been  revilers  of  the  truth  ;  till  this  ancient  body 
which,  at  Eld.  Darrow's  accession,  in  1756,  had  num- 
bered, as  we  learn,  but  twenty-five,  rose  to  be,  nu- 
merically, one  of  the  largest  Baptist  Churches  in 
the  State. 

It  was  during  this  season  of  prosperity,  some  60 
or  70  years  since,  that  the  first  decided  "  Missiona- 
ry movement"  in  this  Church  occurred,  which,  from 
its  early  date  and  singular  origin,  deserves  to  be 
mentioned.  It  seems,  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut,  had  authorized  the  Governor 
to  invite  every  religious  Society  in  the  Common- 
wealth, to  contribute  funds  for  the  support  of  Mis- 
sionaries, to  be  sent  out  under  the  patronage  of 
the  (Congregational)  Association  of  Connecticut,  to 
•"  preach  the  gospel  in  the  Northern  and  Western  re- 
gions of  America."  A  scheme  so  fraught  with  be- 
nevolence would,  it  was  hoped,  reconcile  even  Dis- 
senters from  the  State  establishment,  to  a  temporary 
and  indirect  alliance  between  it  and  the  Churches. 
Here  was  a  dilemma.  To  comply  with  the  request, 
would  be  to  countenance  this  alliance ;  to  reject  it, 
was  to  disregard  the  cause  of  Missions.  The 
Church,  having  received  His  Excellency's  proclama- 
tion and  request,  promptly  voted,  1.  Their  cordial 
approval  of  Missionary  objects  as  "  a  laudable  and 


24 

benevolent  design."  But  2.  This  particular  request 
could  not  be  complied  with,  in  the  manner  suggest- 
ed, because,  "  the  Association  of  Connecticut  did  not 
appoint  the  said  Missionaries  in  what  we  (the  Church,) 
consider  an  equal  and  impartial  manner  —  the  Asso- 
ciation representing  hut  one  denomination?''  3.  They 
wished  to  have  it  distinctly  understood  by  all,  that 
they  "  do  not  recognize  the  right  of  the  General  As- 
sembly to  control  them  as  a  religious  body,  but  only  as 
members  of  civil  society."  Yet,  4.  Lest  this  refusal 
to  meet  the  Assembly's  wishes,  might  be  interpreted 
by  the  world,  as  a  virtual  disapproval  of  sustaining 
Missionaries,  the  Church  "  appointed  a  Special  Com- 
mitlee  to  solicit  subscriptions  for  Missionary  purpo- 
ses" voting  further,  that  "such  funds,  so  raised, 
should  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  any  "  Baptist 
Missionary  Society,"  that  might  be  formed ;  and 
to  promote  this  good  object,  the  Church  stood  pledged 
to  co-operate  ivilh  any  sister  Church  or  Churches,  or 
ivith  any  individual  brethren  who  might  be  disposed 
to  unite  in  carrying  out  this  worthy  object"  Accord- 
ly  the  subscription  paper  was  circulated,  and  some 
fourteen  dollars  raised,  which  was  not  so  small  a  sum 
for  a  Church  to  raise  in  those  days.  And  from  that 
time  to  the  present,  it  is  believed,  this  branch  of 
Zion  has  continued  to  cherish  a  steady  attachment 
to  the  cause  of  Missions,  which,  if  not  manifested  in 
casting  munificent  sums  into  the  treasury,  has  yet 
been  felt  as  a  duty,  and  prized  as  a  privilege. 

The  field  of  Eld.  Darrow's  labors,  at  this  time 
was  wider  than  that  of  modern  Baptist  Pastors.    His 


25 

little  army  lay  encamped  on  the  shores  of  the  Nian* 
tick,  and  in  the  valley  of  Jordan  ;  but  his  out-posts 
Mere  scattered  over  New  London,  Montville,  Black 
Point,  Colchester,  Norwich  Plains,  (Bozrah,)  and  even 
Long  Island.  The  "  Norwich  Plains"  Church  (as  it 
stands  on  the  record,)  was  for  some  time  held  as  a 
branch  of  this  body,  the  names  of  all  the  constituent 
members  being  on  the  books  of  the  mother  Church. 
Busy  in  strengthening  feeble  interests  around  him, 
constantly  holding  forth  the  word  of  Life  to  the  des- 
titute ;  planting  new  churches  abroad,  for  which  his 
own  flock  furnished  a  liberal  quota  of  original  mem- 
bers ;  he  did  not,  on  that  account,  neglect  his  duties 
at  home.  Besides  attending  to  his  farming,  he  yet 
found  time  to  hold  meetings  at  River  Head,  Harbor's 
Mouth,  Great  Neck,  Lake's  Pond,  Jordan,  Rope  Fer- 
ry, and  Quaker  Hill.  He  preached  on  the  Sabbath 
and  administered  the  sacrament  monthly,  except  at 
stated  intervals,  at  the  house  of  one  of  his  Deacons — 
John  Beckwithj  —  till  1788,  when  the  unfinished 
"Hammond  Meeting-House''  was  removed  from  its 
old  site,  near  Finger's  Brook,  placed  on  land  given 
by  Eld.  Darrow,  near  the  "  Howard  burying  ground" 
and  put  in  comfortable  order  by  the  Church.  It  con- 
tinued to  he  their  principal  place  of  worship  till  1848, 
having  been  from  time  to  time  enlarged  and  repair- 
ed, to  accommodate  a  growing  congregation.  At 
stated  times,  the  Church  held  their  meetings  on  the 
Sabbath,  and  communions  in  the  Court  House,  or  at 
the  dwellings  of  brethren  Coit  and  Clark,  in  the  city 
of  New  London,  and  at  the  old  "  Gorton  Meeting- 
3 


26 

House,"  on  East  Neck.  The  latter  was,  from  time 
to  time,  repaired  and  occupied  for  one  hundred  and 
twenty  or  thirty  years. 

This  Church  united  with  the  Second  Groton,  and 
other  Churches,  in  forming-,  at  Eld.  Burrows'  Meet- 
ing1, an  Association  called  the  "Groton  Confer- 
ence," which  body,  in  1789,  embraced  14  Churches, 
14  ministers,  and  about  1300  communicants.  But  Eld. 
Darrow  and  his  people  not  approving  mixed  commun- 
ion, as  practised  by  some  of  the  associated  Churches 
withdrew,  and  united  with  the  "  Stonington  Asso- 
ciation." The  Minutes  of  several  of  the  first  Ses- 
sions of  the  "Conference,"  commencing  with  1786, 
are  written  out  in  full  on  our  records. 

To  give  an  idea  of  the  flourishing  state  of  this 
Zion  in  the  palmiest  days  of  father  Darrow's  minis- 
try, we  subjoin  a  few  statistics  : 

In  1786,  added  by  baptism,  6 ;  in  1787,  58 ;  in 
1788,  30 ;  in  1789,  13;  in  1790,  5;  in  ]794,  91. 

It  was  during  the  extensive  revival  of  1794,  that 
Francis  Darrow  was  converted  and  united  with 
the  Church.  A  late  act  of  the  General  Assembly, 
which  took  effect  about  this  time,  graciously  exempt- 
ed all  dissenters  from  the  Ecclesiastical  Establish- 
ment, from  paying  for  its  support,  provided,  they 
"certified"  their  attachment  and  aid  to  dissenting 
bodies  of  their  choice.  To  show  how  grateful  an 
almost  disfranchised  people  were  for  small  conces- 
sions, we  need  only  to  remark  the  lively  joy  which 
the  Baptists  of  that  day  manifested  for  this  deliver. 


27 

ance.  True,  it  was  not  the  complete  enfranchisement 
which  was  embodied  in  the  Constitution  of  our  State 
at  a  later  period.  But  it  was  hailed  with  a  delight 
which  was  never  surpassed  by  our  Baptist  fathers  at 
any  period  of  their  history,  for  in  it,  they  realized 
the  speedy  triumph  of  full  Religious  Liberty.  From 
the  point  of  time  which  they  occupied,  they  could 
review  the  persecutions,  the  ignomy  which  their  pre- 
decessors and  some  of  their  cotemporaries  had  suffer- 
ed for  vindicating  the  very  principle  which  the  masses 
in  "  the  land  of  steady  habits"  were  beginning  to 
understand.  By  none  was  this  reaction  in  favor  of 
Liberty  of  Conscience  received  with  more  unmingled 
satisfaction  than  by  father  Darrow.  For,  his  tena- 
cious memory,  had  it  been  disposed  to  forget,  (as  his 
heart  was  to  forgive,)  could  scarcely  fail,  at  times,  to 
recall  the  position  which  himself  and  brethren  had 
occupied  when  branded  as  "followers  of  the  mad 
men  of  Munster,  aiming  to  subvert  all  the  established 
forms  of  religion  in  the  land," — and  this  slander  reit- 
erated, till  it  came  to  be  believed  by  many  good  men- 
He  could  not  wholly  forget  the  open  opposition,  the 
civil  disabilities,  and  the  countless  embarrassments 
which  had  been  imposed  upon  them  solely  for  a 
steady,  but  respectful  adherence  to  their  convictions 
of  truth  and  duty. 

In  1801,  Budge  Smith,  an  intelligent  colored 
brother,  licensed  some  time  before,  was  ordained  as 
an  Evangelist.  He  was  a  sound,  edifying  preacher, 
whose  memory  is  yet  precious  in  Zion,  but  he  did  not 
live  many  years,  to  serve  his  heavenly  Master  in  this 


28" 

field.     Budge  had  been  a  slave.     The  little  property 
he  had  accumulated  he  left  to  the  Church. 

Brother  George  Atwell,  another  licentiate  of 
this  Church,  was  ordained  in  1802,  and  settled  over 
the  Saybrook  Church.  He  finally  finished  his  useful 
life  at  Enfield,  in  1814,  aged  48  years. 

About  this  time,  father  Darrow's  health  had  be- 
come so  impaired  by  his  extraordinary  labors,  by  age 
and  consequent  infirmity,  that  the  Church,  by  his  ad- 
vice extended  a  call  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  West,  of 
Bozrah,  to  become  associate  Pastor  with  Eld.  Dar- 
row,  (then  in  his  75th  year,)  which  he  accepted,  and 
came  to  reside  among  them  in  1802.  Eld.  West,  who 
had  at  first  been  a  Seventh  Day  Baptist,  was  born  in 
Hopkinton,  R.  I.,  in  1766.  After  embracing  the 
Christian  Sabbath,  he  was  ordained  at  Norwich  in 
1799,  and  the  same  year  settled  over  the  Bozrah 
Church. 

Two  years  after  his  settlement  in  Waterford,  the 
First  Baptist  Church  of  New  London  was  formed, 
by  the  dismissal  of  about  fifty  members  from  the  old 
body.  The  new  Church  called  Eld.  West  to  the 
pastorate,  but  he  continued,  by  agreement,  to  break 
bread  to  the  Waterford  brethren,  till  1809.  After 
twelve  years  of  successful  labor  with  the  mother  and 
daughther  in  Waterford  and  New  London,  he  remov- 
ed to  Saybroolr,  and  remained  connected  with  that 
ancient  Church  till  his  death,  in  1837. 

Francis  Darrow  was  associated  with  his  grand- 
father Zadoc,  in  1809.  But  the  latter  continued  to 
preach  occasionally,  as  he  was  able,  and   when  no 


29 

longer  capable,  from  the  weight  of  years,  of  blow- 
ing the  gospel  trumpet,  as  he  had  been  wont  —  his 
tremulous  voice  was  sometimes  heard,  exhorting  his 
spiritual  children,  counselling  the  youth,  and  affec- 
tionately inviting  all  to  come  to  the  Saviour.  Deep 
and  lasting  impressions  were  made  on  the  minds  of 
his  auditors,  as  they  heard  these  last  appeals  from 
this  patriarchal  servant  of  God,  who  had  worn  him- 
self out  in  the  service  of  their  fathers.  But  the 
time  of  his  departure  was  at  hand.  He  had  "  fought 
the  good  fight,"  for  almost  four-score  years,  since  his 
conversion  and  union  with  the  Church  militant.  He 
had  ministered  in  the  Deacon's  and  Pastoral  office, 
more  than  three-fourths  of  a  century. 

Zadoc  Darrow  "  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,"  February 
15,  1827,  in  the  99th  year  of  his  age.  His  funeral 
sermon  was  preached  by  Eld.  West,  his  former  col- 
league, from  Deut.  32:  7.  "Ask  thy  father,"  &c. 
Eld.  D.  was  three  times  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Hannah  Lester,  by  whom  he  had  no  children.  His 
second  wife  was  the  sainted  Hester  Lee,  sister  of 
Eld  Jason  Lee,  of  Lyme,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons 
and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  lived  to  have  fami- 
lies, and  several  of  whose  descendants  have  been,  or 
are  still,  ministers  of  the  gospel.  His  third  wife,  the 
pious  widow  Pember,  was  united  to  him  late  in  life, 
and  died  but  five  days  before  him,  aged  94  years. 

Elder  Francis  Darrow's  Ministry. — From  the 
time  of  his  conversion  to  God,  and  connection  with 
the  Church,  in  1794,   Francis  Darrow,  who  was  the 
3* 


30 

son  of  Dea.  Lemuel  Darrow,  and  grandson  of  Rev. 
Zadoc  Darrow,  had  felt  his  mind  occasionally  called 
up  to  the  subject  of  "preaching  Christ."  In  1809, 
he  was  ordained,  at  the  unanimous  call  of  the  Church, 
and  made  associate  Pastor  with  his  aged  grandfather. 
Eld.  Wilcox  preached,  and  Elders  Burrows,  Lee  and 
West,  assisted  in  the  exercises  on  the  occasion.  At 
that  time,  this  Church  did  not,  it  must  be  confessed, 
present  an  inviting  field.  Its  aggregate  membership 
which,  at  one  time,  had  arisen  to  nearly  300,  was 
now  diminished  to  about  half  that  number;  and  these 
so  rent  by  divisions,  as  to  require  the  wisdom  of  an 
experienced  leader  to  harmonize  and  build  up  this 
ancient  Zion,  which  seemed  to  be  threatened  with 
dissolution.  Among  the  causes  of  this  diminution 
and  unhappy  declension,  we  may  mention,  1.  The 
protracted  infirmity  of  the  senior  Pastor,  whose  wont- 
ed efficiency  in  doctrine  and  discipline,  was  no  lon- 
ger directly  felt  as  it  had  been  in  the  days  of  his 
vigor.  2.  It  lost  some  of  its  most  efficient  members, 
by  the  rising  of  new  Baptist  interests  around  it,  a  loss, 
however,  which  she  ever  felt  tp  be  a  gain  to  the 
cause  of  Christ,  and  which  she  could  not  feel  it,  in 
her  heart,  to  deplore.  3.  The  distraction,  of  what 
has  since  been  called,  the  Great  Schism,  had  not 
been  fully  healed.  This  schism  had  originated  upon 
matters  of  Church  discipline  ;  in  the  progress  of 
which,  the  administrators  had  been  obliged  to  refuse 
to  break  bread  to  the  Church.  Council  after  coun- 
cil had  failed  to  accommodate  the  difference ;  and 
when  the  body  was  supposed  to  be  brought  into  "a 


?>] 

gospel  travel,"  the  Deacons  refused  to  officiate,  and 
one  of  them  had  to  be  suspended,  and  at  last  exclud- 
ed ;  the  Church  Clerk  refused  to  record  what  he  con- 
sidered "ungospel  acts,"  and  resigned;  several  of 
the  best  brethren  stopped  their  travel  with  the  Church, 
when  the  majority  had  believed  the  difference  settled, 
which  opened  the  wound  afresh,  and  which  was  now 
pronounced, by  the  desponding-,  "incurable."  4.  But 
the  absence  of  any  considerable  revival  since  1794, 
was  a  cause  not  to  be  overlooked,  in  accounting  for 
the  deplorable  state  of  things  in  which  Francis  Dar. 
row  found  his  beloved  brethren,  when  he  was  called 
to  tend  the  scattered  flock.  Not  discouraged  by 
these  things,  but  relying  on  help  from  God,  in  the 
hour  of  extremity,  for  those  who  tried  to  help  them- 
selves, the  young  Pastor  cast  his  burden  on  the  Lord, 
and  soon  had  the  happiness  of  seeing  an  improved 
state  of  affairs.     The  Lord  remembered  Zion. 

The  following  years  have  been  seasons  of  revival, 
viz:  In  1812,  baptized,  7;  1813,40;  1814,6;  1816 
8;  1817,77;  1820,31;  1822,7;  1824,39;  1827,5; 
1830,108;  1831,5;  1833,65;  1838,20;  1841,50; 
1842,62;  1843,64;  1845,5;  1847,67.  And  dur- 
ing most  of  the  intermediate  years,  when  no  special 
effusion  of  the  Spirit  has  been  enjoyed,  there  have 
been  some  additions. 

The  aggregate  number  baptized  by  our  present 
Pastor,  has  been  about  seven  hundred,  being  an  av- 
erage of  nearly  seventeen  per  year,  during  a  period 
of  more  than  forty  years.  There  have  been,  per- 
haps, few   Churches   in  the  land,  in   whose  midst  a 


32 

greater  number  of  spiritual  children  have  been  "born 
into  the  kingdom,"  the  most  of  whom,  we  rejoice  to 
say,  have  continued  steadfast  in  the  truth  ;  but  many 
have  gone  to  join  the  Church  triumphant. 

Between  twenty  and  thirty  of  our  number  have 
become  faithful  ministers  of  the  New  Testament ; 
among  whom,  in  addition  to  brethren  Smith,  Atwell, 
and  others  already  mentioned,  we  may  also  enume- 
rate, J.  C.  Holt,  licensed  in  1822;  Peter  Latimer, 
licensed  the  same  year;  G.  T.  Chappel,  united  in 
1817  ;  J.  P.  Brown,  united  in  1841 ;  to  which  we  add, 
among  others,  who  were  original  members  with  us, 
and  have  since  entered  the  ministry,  Ira  R.  Steward, 
united  in  1816;  Allen  Darrow,  son  of  Eld.  Francis 
Darrow,  united  in  1817;  D.  D.  Lyon,  ]830;  Edwin 
Brown,  grandson  of  Eld.  Zadoc  D.,  in  1824,  &c.  &c. 

From  1827  to  October,  1850,  Eld  Francis  Darrow 
was  the  sole  Pastor,  he  completed,  in  September, 
1850,  the  40th  year  of  his  pastorship ;  and  attended, 
in  usual  health,  the  New  London  Baptist  Association} 
held  at  Norwich,  (which  he  assisted  in  organizing  in 
1817,)  where  he  took  a  part  in  its  services,  but  re- 
turned to  close  his  labors  on  earth.  He  preached  his 
last  sermon  to  his  beloved  people  with  a  most  blessed 
unction  on  Sabbath,  September  29,  1850,  in  usual 
health  and  strength.  The  latter  part  of  the  follow- 
ing week  he  became  unwell,  and  continned  to  fail 
every  day,  till  Tuesday  the  15th  of  October,  1850, 
when  his  happy  spirit,  like  a  peaceful  angel,  fled  to 
the  bosom  of  his  God.  H  is  age  was  71.  His  funeral 
was  attended  by  an  immense  concourse  of  people 


33 

From  the  surrounding  region,  on  Thursday,  October 
17,  when  an  appropriate  sermon  was  delivered  by 
Bro.  C.  Willett,  of  New  London,  from  1  Kings  £0  : 
11.  Bro.  E.  R.  Warren,  of  Now  London,  P.  G. 
Wightfnan,  of  East  Lyme,  and  our  venerable  father 
Augustus  Bolles,  participated  in  the  services  of  the 
mournful  occasion.  Several  other  ministers  were 
present,  and  followed  his  remains  to  the  grave.  His 
venerable  widow  still  survives.  He  left  behind  three 
children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  One  of  his 
sons  is  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  in  Pomfret,  and  his 
daughter  is  the  wife  of  Eld.  Nathan  Wildman,  of 
Lebanon.  He  left  also  a  grand-daughter,  whose  hus- 
band, Eld.  Jacob  Gardner,  is  the  Pastor  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church  at  East  Haddam. 

Eld.  Augustus  Bolles,  of  Colchester,  has  been 
invited  to  officiate  until  the  Church  shall  elect  a  Pas- 
tor, and  is  serving  the  Church  with  much  ability,  and 
to  their  general  acceptance. 

In  1848,  the  Church  completed  their  new  house  of 
worship,  at  a  cost  of  about  $5000.  It  is  a  commo- 
dious structure,  centrally  located  at  "Jordan;"  and 
near  by  on  the  "  Banks  of  Jordan,"  they  have  select- 
ed, and  by  a  little  labor,  rendered  their  baptizing 
place  very  convenient.  Their  present  number  of 
members  is  about  400,  of  whom  father  Stedman 
Newbury,  is  the  oldest,  being  now  (1850,)  in  his  90th 
year,  and  having  been  for  nearly  three-fourths  o9  a 
century  an  exemplary  member,  whose  tenacious  mem- 
ory and  still  vigorous  mind,  have  greatly  aided  in 
compiling  this  sketch. 


34 

Beacons  of  the  Church — Of  the  twenty-one 
or  twenty-two  Deacons  of  this  Church,  during  the 
space  of  one  hundred  and  forty  years,  the  scriptural 
number  of  "  seven  men  of  honest  report,"  are  still 
living  ;  four  of  whom  were  ordained  during  the 
past  year. 

This  Church  first  adopted  written  Church  Arti- 
cles and  Covenant,  in  due  form,  in  1786.  These 
were  revised  in  1824. 

The  Church  has  been  served  in  order  of  succes- 
sion, by  fifteen  brethren  as  Clerks.  Bro.  Joseph 
Avery  is  the  present  Church  Clerk. 

November  8,  1849,  brethren  Jas.  Beckwich,  Leon- 
ard Crocker,  Jonathan  Caul  kins,  and  Isaac  Avery, 
were  ordained  Deacons.  These  brethren,  together 
with  Elisha  Beckwith,  Gilbert  Rogers,  and  John 
Smith,  now  constitute  our  Board  of  Deacons ;  the 
last  three  having  held  the  office  for  many  years. 

In  view  of  our  History,  from  the  first  to  the  pres- 
ent, we  have  to  exclaim,  "What  hath  God  wrought  ?" 
May  our  younger  brethren,  our  children,  and  our 
children's  children,  still  occupy  this  field,  till  our 
Saviour  comes.     Amen. 


2d  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  WATERFORD. 

We  would  modestly  (say  the  Church,  in  giving  us 
this  History,)  narrate  the  steps  we  have  taken,  and 
thankfully  record  the  good  hand  of  our  God  upon  us. 

Our  location  is  in  the  North  East  part  of  the  town. 
Previous  to  our  organization,  there  was  no  Baptist 
Church  much  nearer  than  four  miles.  The  inhabi- 
tants of  this  region  had  too  generally  given  them- 
selves up  to  Sabbath  breaking,  intemperance,  gam- 
bling, profanity,  and  almost  every  other  evil  work,  so 
that  the  few  who  sighed  and  cried  for  the  abomina- 
tions done  in  the  land,  thought  it  truly  missionary 
ground. 

The  Board  of  the  Connecticut  Baptist  State  Con- 
vention, in  the  year  1835,  appointed  Rev.  Erastds 
Doty  to  labor  among  this  people  a  portion  of  the 
time.  His  labors  were  not  in  vain.  A  few  Baptists, 
members  of  different  Churches,  formed  themselves 
into  a  Conference,  April  19,  1835,  for  the  purpose  of 
advancing  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer,  expecting  in 
due  time  that  a  Church  would  be  formed.  Two  were 
received  by  letter  at  this  meeting,  and  one  as  a  can- 
didate for  baptism.  On  the  24th,  three  more  were 
received  into  fellowship  ;  and  one  on  the  24th  of  May 
following.  Thus  the  incipient  measures  were  taken 
towards  our  present  existence. 


36 

It  very  soon  became  apparent,  that  a  house  of 
worship  was  much  needed.  Bro.  Doty,  by  request, 
drew  up  a  constitution,  and  subscriptions  were  liber- 
ally made  for  the  object.  The  house  was  completed 
that  season.  A  series  of  religious  meetings  were 
held,  and  a  goodly  number  of  youth  and  others,  were 
converted.  Several  neighboring  ministers  aided  in 
these  services.  The  commandment  of  Jesus,  and 
the  sight  of  the  waters,  as  usual,  induced  the  con- 
vert virtually  to  say,  "  here  is  water,  what  doth  hin- 
der me  to  be  baptized  ?"  The  voice  of  Providence 
seemed  now  to  order  a  more  distinct  Church  organi- 
zation. Accordingly,  after  one  or  two  preliminary 
meetings,  another  was  appointed,  and  held  at  the 
dwelling  house  occupied  by  bro.  Isaac  Thompson,  on 
the  evening  of  the  14th  December,  1835.  Eld.  E. 
Denison,  from  Groton,  by  request,  being  present,  act- 
ed as  Moderator,  and  bro.  D.  D.  Lyon,  as  Clerk. 
After  solemn  prayer,  a  Covenant  and  Articles  of 
Faith  were  read  deliberately,  and  upon  a  free  ex- 
pression of  views,  were  agreed  to  by  every  member 
of  the  Conference  present,  except  one.  Whereupon 
a  preamble  and  resolutJon  was  passed,  that,  from 
henceforth,  we  consider  ourselves  as  an  independent 
Church,  to  be  known  as  the  "Second  Baptist 
Church  in  Waterford."  It  was  then  voted,  that 
we  call  a  Council,  with  a  view  of  obtaining  their 
fellowship. 

The  Council  met  on  the  31st  December,  and  after 
patiently  examining  the  question,  voted,  unanimously, 
lo  extend  to  us  the  hand  of  fellowship.      Eighteen 


37 

Wer6  thus  recognized,  and  the  following  day  the 
usual  services  were  performed.  Sermon  by  Elder 
F.  YVightman.  To  add  to  the  solemnity  of  the  ser- 
vices, seven  young  persons  were  buried  with  Christ 
in  baptism  by  Eld.  E.  Denison.  Thus  this  little  ship 
which  had  a  somewhat  singular  model,  was,  on  Jan- 
uary 1st,  183G,  publicly  and  joyfully  named,  and 
launched  into  the  ocean  to  be  tossed  (as  the  future 
has  disclosed,)  with  tempests  of  opposing  powers, 
anti-gospel  influences,  come-outism,  and  false  breth- 
ren, threatening  to  involve  ship,  officers,  and  all 
hands  in  one  common  ruin. 

While  these  things  have  been  filling  up  a  part  of 
our  history,  we  will  see  how  our  God  has  hitherto 
steered  the  barque  through  the  howling  tempest,  and 
amidst  the  reefs  and  quicksands  of  our  voyage  to  the 
present  hour. 

The  work  of  grace  continued  through  the  winter, 
when  Eld.  E.  Denison  became  our  Pastor.  He  en- 
tered more  directly  upon  his  duties  on  the  1st  of 
April,  1836,  for  three-fourths  of  the  time  for  the  first 
year,  and  the  whole  time  for  the  second  year.  Dur- 
ing these  two  years,  about  forty  were  admitted  by 
baptism  and  letter,  and  more  than  two  hundred  dol- 
lars were  raised  by  the  Church  and  community  for 
various  benevolent  objects. 

Elder  Alfred  Gates  followed  in  the  pastorate, 
and  continued  with  us  about  two  and  a  half  years; 
during  which  time  a  number  were  added,  chiefly  by 
letter.  Eld.  Gates  closed  his  labors  in  October  1840. 
Occasional  supplies  were  obtained,  until  December 
4 


38 

26,  when  it  was  voted  that  Bro.  D.  D.  Lyon  should 
take  the  lead  of  the  meeting  and  improve  his  gift. 
February  23,  1841,  an  engagement  was  made  with 
Eld.  John  Payne,  to  preach  half  the  time.  During 
the  years  1842  and  1843,  a  very  general  and  power- 
ful revival  brightens  the  pages  of  our  history;  ex- 
tending also  into  1844. 

On  the  24th  of  February,  1842,  Bro.  D.  D.  Lyon 
was  employed  to  preach  for  the  ensuing  year.  On 
the  8th  of  April,  1843,  three  brethren,  viz.,  George 
D.  Jerome,  Asa  Wightman  and  Curtis  Keeney,  were 
chosen  Deacons.  Bro.  Lyon  closed  his  engagement, 
April  1643. 

Bro.  P.  G.  Wightman,  a  licentiate  of  the  First 
Church,  Groton,  then  entered  upon  his  labors  as  Pas- 
tor, and  on  the  20th  September  following,  he  was 
duly  set  apart  to  the  work,  more  publicly,  by  ordina- 
tion. The  Deacons  elect,  were  also  ordained  on  the 
same  day.  Bro.  Wightman  continued  his  ministry 
with  us  until  April,  1846.  During  his  labors  here,  a 
larsre  number  were  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
truth  and  baptized,  and  some  were  added  by  letter. 

Some  events  of  deep  interest  and  trial  are  on  the 
pages  of  our  history  of  these  times,  but  "  Jehovah 
sits  on  the  flood."  Had  it  not  been  that  the  Lord 
was  on  our  side,  the  enemy  had  swallowed  us  up 
quickly.  As  the  ship  rocks  and  reels  amidst  con- 
flicting waves,  so  the  Church  endures  the  commo- 
tions that  tries  her  workmanship,  and  her  strength. 

If  our  God  remove  one  servant  to  a  more  con- 
genial clime,  he  has  another  to  breast  the  elements 


39 

here.  Bro.  N.  T.  Allen,  a  licentiate  from  Wick- 
ford,  R.  I.,  by  request  engaged  to  preach  half  the 
time  for  us  ;  the  other  half  for  the  Union  Church, 
Montville.  The  question  of  Church  and  Society, 
acts  of  discipline,  grievance  of  some  members,  &c  , 
were  agitated  during  the  Spring  of  1846,  and  finally 
adjusted  by  a  mutual  council.  Bro.  Allen  was  or- 
dained on  the  12th  day  of  August,  at  the  Union 
Church,  Montville,  with  the  cordial  co-operation  of 
this  Church.  Bro.  Allen  enjoyed  the  confidence  of 
both  Churches  during  his  labors  with  them,  but  upon 
the  pressing  request  of  the  Church  at.  Groton  Bank, 
he  commenced  his  labors  with  them  the  1st  of  April, 

1847.  We  were  again  destitute  of  a  Pastor  for  a 
few  months ;  after  which  we  were  favored  with  the 
services  of  Bro.  G.  R.  Darrow,  a  licentiate  of  the 
Union  Church,  Montville.  During  his  stay  with  us, 
a  revival  was  enjoyed  which  resulted  in  the  addition 
of  sixteen  to  the  Church.  His  engagement  ended 
March,  1848. 

Bro.  C.  Keeney  was  licensed  to  preach  January, 

1848.  Eld.  E.  Denison  entered  upon  the  Pastorate, 
April  1,  1848,  again,  upon  a  unanimous  call  from  the 
Church;  having  been  absent  from  the  Church  ten 
years. 

In  April,  1850,  Bro.  Curtiss  Keeney,  (Bro.  Deni- 
son having  left,  after  two  years  service,)  become  our 
supply.  A  good  degree  of  harmony  and  peace  pre- 
vails throughout  the  Church.  Our  present  number 
is  11(5. 


1st  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  EAST  LYME.* 

The  History  of  this  Church  is  shaded  in  some  ob- 
scurity. Baptist  sentiments  began  to  prevail  here, 
before  the  year  1730,  through  the  labors  of  the  venera- 
ble Valentine  Wightman,  who  was  Pastor  of  the 
Baptist  Church  in  Groton.  As  early  as  1747,  Na- 
than Jewett,  of  Lyme,  was  expelled  from  the  Legis- 
lature, for  being  a  member  of  a  separate  Church ; 
and  this  is  supposed  to  be  the  Church  to  which  he 
belonged. 

The  first  records  to  be  found  commence  in  1752, 
from  which  time  a  faithful  account  of  their  walk  has 
been  preserved  Eld.  Ebenezer  Mack  was  then 
Pastor,  and  the  names  of  sixty-eight  are  recorded  as 
members.  The  first  Meeting-House  was  erected  in 
1755.  Eld.  Mack  labored  faithfully  for  more  than 
sixteen  years,  through  various  vicissitudes  of  prosper- 
ity and  adversity,  when,  at  his  request,  he  was  re- 
leased, on  account  of  feeble  health,  from  the  pastoral 
care  ;  yet  he  continued  in  covenant  relation,  though 
soon  after  he  ceased  to  walk  with  them  in  the  ordi- 
nances, because  he  thought  it  inconsistent  for  a  Bap- 
tist Church  to  build  and  commune  at  the  Lord's  table 

*  This  Church  was  called  the  Baptist  Church  in  Lyme, 
until  1839,  when  it  was  changed  to  East  Lyme,  on  account 
of  the  division  of  the  town. 


> 


41 

with  those  who  held  and  practised  infant  sprinkling'. 
A  council  was  called,  which  gave  their  decision  in 
favor  of  Eld.  Mack  ;  and  from  this  council,  originat- 
ed the  Stonington  Association. 

While  thus  without  a  Pastor  for  several  years,  they 
were  occasionally  visited  by  Eld.  Zadoc  Darrow,  Eld. 
Joshua  Morse,  and  others,  Avho  preached  and  admin- 
istered the  ordinances.  In  one  of  his  visits,  in  1771, 
Eld.  Morse  proposed  that  this  Church,  and  the  Church 
to  which  he  ministered  should  "  enter  into  a  sisterly 
relation.  The  brethren  requested  him  to  state  what 
his  Articles  were.  He  replied,  "That  none,  be  ad- 
mitted to  membprship  but  real  believers,  and  nothing 
be  practised  for  baptism,  but  immersion?  His  first 
proposition  was  unanimously  adopted,  and  the  sec- 
ond, by  a  large  majority. 

Yet,  the  Church  became  much  scattered,  and  the 
few  who  remained  were  in  great  discouragement. 
A  day  of  fasting  was  appointed,  to  pray  to  Cod,  as 
the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  for  an  under  shepherd,  and 
inquire  whether  the  man  was  among  them.  They 
were  soon  convinced  that  he  was  ;  and  called  .Iam>n 
Lee  to  be  their  Pastor.  He  was  the  son  of  Eld. 
Joseph  Lee,  Pastor  of  a  Church  at  South  Hold.  Long 
Island  ;  yet  his  family  lived  in  Lyme.  In  1774.  a 
council  of  sister  Churches  was  called,  and  they  pro- 
ceeded publicly  to  set  him  apart  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry.  From  this  time,  a  good  deoree  of  pros- 
perity was  enjoyed.  The  labors  of  their  Pastor 
were  blessed  to  their  edification,  and  sinners  ueie 
seen  "  flying  as  a  cloud,  and  as  doves  to  their  win- 
4" 


42 

dows."  Branches  were  formed  in  Marlow  and  Lemp^- 
ster,  in  New  Hampshire,  and  in  the  North  Society, 
in  New  London,  (since  called  Montville.)  The  Sep- 
arates, as  they  were  then  called,  became  the  most 
numerous  in  the  Society.  The  standing  order  could 
not  lay  a  tax  on  them  as  formerly,  for  the  support  of 
their  minister ;  for  when  they  assembled  for  the  pur- 
pose, the  Separates  also  met  with  them,  and  the  vote 
was  carried,  to  have  "  No  Tax." 

About  this  time,  several  of  the  brelhren  gave  ev- 
idence that  they  were  called  of  God  to  a  more  pub- 
lic work;  and  in  1782,  Eleazer  Beckwith  was 
ordained  as  an  Evangelist,  and  "given  up"  to  take 
the  pastoral  care  of  the  branch  at  Marlow.  Eld. 
Beckwith,  afterwards  became  one  of  the  most  enter- 
taining preachers.  Large  crowds  assembled  to  hear 
him,  and  some  who  remember  him,  testify,  that  above 
any  one  else,  he  seemed  to  bring  heaven  near. 

The  same  year  Christopher  Miner  was  called 
to  ordination.  He  removed  the  following  year  to 
Chatham,  where  a  Baptist  Church  was  organized  a 
few  months  afterwards. 

The  next  year,  Richard  Sill  was  set  apart  by 
ordination,  to  the  work  of  an  Evangelist.  During 
this  year,  it  is  recorded,  that  in  view  of  the  numerous 
backslidings  of  God's  people,  and  the  absence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  a  day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer  was  ap- 
pointed, which  was  attended  by  evident  influences  of 
Divine  power.  The  wandering  began  to  return,  and 
many  were  hopefully  redeemed  from  sin  and  death. 
This  Church,  with  others  of  the  same  faith,  united 


43 

in  178C,  in  forming  the  Groton  Union  Conference, 
of  which  Eld.  Lee  was  the  first  Moderator.  The 
object  of  this  Union  was,  mutual  edification,  and  to 
make  provision  for  the  poor  of  the  flock,  especially 
the  widows  and  orphans  of  deceased  ministers  ;  and 
the  support  of  ministers,  if  any  should  become  in- 
firm. [The  records  of  the  first  meetings  were  kept 
in  the  same  book  with  the  Church  records.]  The 
Church  first  reported  their  numbers  to  this  Confer- 
ence, in  1788;  at  which  time  there  were  219.  In 
the  following  year,  with  the  assistance  of  council 
from  sister  Churches,  William  Comstock  and  Nche- 
miah  Huntley  were  ordained  as  Evangelists. 

Until  the  year  1795,  occasional  communion  with 
the  Pedo-Baptists  had  been  allowed,  although  a 
majority  had  all  along  been  opposed  to  it.  They 
now  resolved  to  follow  gospel  order.  After  a  short 
interval  of  trial  and  labor,  the  Lord  again  appeared 
to  build  up  this  Zion.  In  1797,  Eld.  William  Hill, 
and  a  large  number  of  brethren  from  Saybrook,  unit- 
ed in  covenant  and  labor  with  them. 

The  year  1798  is  distinguished  by  the  commence- 
ment of  still  better  days.  Through  this,  and  the 
following  year,  the  most  powerful  revival  was  enjoy- 
ed that  this  Church  had  ever  seen. 

The  Church  called  two  more  of  their  number  to 
the  ministry;  Nathan  Champlin,  who  was  ordained 
in  the  year  1800,  and  William  Welch,  in  1801.  The 
work  of  grace  was  still  seen  in  occasional  conver- 
sions, until  1804,  when,  on  account  of  the  dearth, 
both  in  spiritual  and  natural  things,  a  day  of  fasting 


44 

and  prayer  was  observed.  This  was  followed  not 
only  with  temporal,  but  also  with  spiritual  prosperity. 
In  the  years  1806  and  1807,  ninety-nine  were  receiv- 
ed by  baptism.  The  cause  steadily  advanced,  until 
they  were  called  to  part  with  their  beloved  leader. 
In  March,  1810,  after  three  months  of  distressing  ill- 
ness, which  was  endured  with  exemplary  patience, 
Eld.  Lee  died,  in  full  expectation  of  a  glorious  im- 
mortality, in  the  70th  year  of  his  age,  the  4Cth  of 
his  ministry,  and  the  36th  of  his  pastoral  labors.  It 
would  be  gratifying  to  transcribe  the  memento  of 
affection  recorded,  but  our  brief  space  will  not  allow. 

The  Lord  remembered  them  in  their  affliction,  and 
sent  Eld.  Asa  Wilcox  to  go  in  and  out  before  them. 
He  commenced  his  labors  by  preaching  a  discourse 
at  the  funeral  of  Elder  Lee,  from  2  Tim.  4 :  7,  8. 
During  the  eight  years  of  his  ministry,  some  seasons 
of  refreshing  were  seen,  and  although  they  encoun- 
tered many  trials,  and  dismissed  25  of  their  mem- 
bers to  form  the  Waterford  and  Montville  Church, 
and  others  were  set  off  to  the  2d  Church  in  Lyme, 
their  number  which,  at  the  death  of  Eld.  Lee,  was 
431,  was  increased  to  441. 

In  1816,  Mr.  James  Davis,  a  minister  in  the  Con- 
gregational order,  was  received,  upon  a  relation  of 
experience,  and  baptized  by  Eld.  Wilcox.  He  was 
ordained  a  few  months  afterwards  by  a  council  call- 
ed for  the  purpose.  From  their  first  record  to  this 
time,  gospel  discipline  had  been  faithfully  and  prompt- 
ly observed.  Committees  appointed  to  visit  mem- 
bers living  in  Marlow,  Lempster,  Say  brook  and  Mont- 


45 

ville,  never  failed  to  make  their  report  at  the  proper 
time,  except  in  a  very  few  instances.  When  com- 
pelled to  the  painful  duty  of  withdrawing  the  hand 
of  fellowship,  the  chapters  and  verses  of  the  Holy 
Word,  requiring  the  act,  were  faithfully  cited,  ac- 
companied with  a  pathetic  exhortation  to  immediate 
repentance.  A  request  was  now  sent  to  the  branch 
in  Lempster,  that  they  should  unite  with  other 
Churches,  or  form  themselves  into  an  independent 
Church. 

Eld.  G.  W.  Appletox  was  their  next  Pastor.     He 

>  remained  about  four  years.  In  1821,  the  brethren  in 
Lempster  sent  Ezra  Miner  to  the  Church,  requesting 
his  ordination.  A  council  was  accordingly  called, 
and  he  was  solemnly  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry.  At  the  request  of  the  Church  and  coun- 
cil, the  sermon  was  preached  by  the  candidate.  Af- 
ter the  resignation  of  Eld.  Appleton,  they  were  desti- 
tute of  a  Pastor  for  nearly  a  year.  Eighteen  were 
set  off  to  form  the  Chesterfield  Church  in  Montville, 
and  their  numbers  were  reduced  to  less  than  200. 

About  this  time,  Nathan  Wildman  came  among 
them,  and  his  labors  were  richly  blessed.  In  1824, 
they  called  him  to  ordination,  and  prosperity  again 
shone  upon  them.  Refreshings  of  the  Spirit  were  fre- 
quent ;  more  than  100  were  added  by  baptism  during 
his  ministry.  In  the  year  1831,  William  A.  Smith 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel. 

Eld.  Frederick  Wigiitman  succeeded  to  the 
pastorate  in  1832,  whose  faithful  and  endearing  la- 
bors were  followed  the  next  Spring  by  a  precious: 


46 

revival,  in  which  40  followed  the  Saviour  in  baptism. 
He  was  succeeded,  in  1838,  by  Eld.  Wm.  Palmer. 
In  1840,  a  cheering-  work  of  grace  appeared  in  the 
South  part  of  the  Church,  and  nineteen  were  bap- 
tized. On  account  of  a  division  of  the  town,  the 
name  of  the  Church  was  changed.  In  the  Winter 
of  1841-2,  after  the  resignation  of  Eld.  Palmer,  Eld. 
Amos  D.  Watrous  held  a  series  of  meetings,  in 
which  large  accessions  were  received.  The  Spring 
following,  twenty  were  dismissed,  to  form  the  Lyme 
Church;  and  the  next  winter,  fifty -five  were  set  off 
forming  the  Second  Church  in  East  Lyme. 

Eld.  F.  Wightman  accepted  a  call  again,  to  be- 
come their  Pastor,  and  was  soon  permitted  to  see  the 
fruits  of  his  labors.  They  now,  (June  1842,)  remov- 
ed to  a  new  house  of  worship,  in  which  God  had 
already  manifested  his  presence,  before  it  was  com- 
pleted. Here  they  had  previously  listened  to  the 
experience  of  young  converts,  who  offered  them- 
selves for  baptism.  Their  Pastor  being  compelled, 
by  sickness,  to  resign,  Eld.  Chester  Tilden  was 
called  to  the  charge,  who  labored  with  them  a  little 
more  than  two  years. 

Their  present  Pastor,  P.  G.  Wightman,  com- 
menced his  ministry  among  them  in  the  Spring  of 
1840.  The  next  winter  a  series  of  meetings  were 
held,  in  which  Eld.  J.  S.  Swan,  and  some  of  his 
brethren  assisted.  The  Lord  revived  his  work,  and 
eighty-four  were  added  by  baptism  ;  and  through  the 
abundant  mercy  of  God,  this  ancient  Church  still 
holds  on  her  way.     Her  present  number  is  203. 


2d  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  EAST  LYME. 

This  Church  was  constituted  December  29,  1842, 
of  58  brethren  and  sisters,  from  the  13aptist  Church 
in  East.  Lyme,  and  the  First  Church  in  Waterford, 
who  had  obtained  letters  for  such  purpose.  The 
Church  was  publicly  recognized  by  a  council,  Janu- 
ary 12,  1843.  A  chaste  and  convenient  Meeting- 
House  was  erected  for  the  Church,  and  opened  for 
the  worship  of  God,  in  September,  1843. 

In  April,  1843,  Kid.  James  Hepburn  was  elected 
Pastor,  and  continued  with  the  Church  in  this  relation, 
for  three  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Eld.  Fred'k 
Wightman,  who  also  served  the  Church  three  years, 
when,  being'  disabled  by  a  painful  sickness,  he  re- 
signed his  charge.  The  Church  then  invited  Eld. 
Palmer  to  take  the  charge  of  the  Church,  but  he 
also  was  unable  to  do  so,  on  account  of  sickness. 

Since  the  Church  was  organized,  fifty-five  have 
been  added  ;  nine  dismissed  ;  ten  died.  Present 
number,  ninety-four.  Present  Pastor,  H.  Hedden  ; 
F.  W.  Bolles,  Clerk. 


BAPTIST  CHURCH,  LYME. 

The  Baptish  Church  in  Lyme,  was  publicly  recog- 
nized May  11,  1843,  the  services  of  the  occasion 
being  held  in  the  Door-Yard  of  Stephen  L.  Peck, 
Esq.,  the  Congregational  Meeting-HoUse  having  been 
refused  for  the  occasion;  and  the  Baptists,  at  the 
time,  being  destitute  of  a  place  of  worship. 

The  Church  consisted  of  70  members,  40  of  whom 
were  received  by  baptism,  and  30  by  letter.  The 
sermon  of  recognition  was  preached  by  the  lament- 
ed Miller,  of  Essex,  from  the  text,  1  Pet.  2:  5. 
"  Ye  also  as  lively  stones  are  built  up  a  spiritual 
house/'  A  large  number  of  ministers  and  brethren 
from  neighboring  Churches  were  present,  and  the 
season  was  one  of  deep  and  thrilling  interest. 

This  Church  had  its  origin,  principally,  in  a  prec- 
ious revival  enjoyed  under  the  Evangelical  labors  of 
Eld."  A.  D.  Watrous,  in  which  many  were  convert- 
ed ;  and  scattered  Baptists,  who  had  long  resided  in 
the  vicinity,  were  brought  together,  and  united  in 
the  covenant  relation.  Occasionally,  this  place  has 
been  visited  by  Baptist  ministers  for  a  period  of  over 
fifty  years.  Elders  West,  Dodge,  Darrow,  Wilcox 
Palmer,  and  Shailer,  and  others,  have  here  sown 
much  good  seed  of  the  kingdom.  A  neighborhood 
prayer  meeting  maintained  by  a  few  brethren  and 


49 

sistors,  in  1340,  was,  no  doubt,  influential  in  prepar- 
ing the  way  for  the  precious  revival  which  followed, 
and  the  gathering  of  the  Church.  Bro.  Watroua' 
labors  were  continued  for  the  space  of  six  months, 
and  were  eminently  owned  of  the  Lord. 

Eld.  Brocket  became  Pastor,  and  labored  with 
encouraging  success  two  years  and  a  half.  A  neat 
and  convenient  Meeting-House  was  erected  in 
1842-3,  and  opened  for  the  worship  of  God,  May 
25,  1843.  Elder  Watrous  again  labored  with  them 
in  the  Winter  of  1843,  and  Eld.  Stewart  in  the  Win- 
ter of  1844,  with  much  success,  assisting  the  Pastor, 
Eld.  Brocket. 

At  the  time  of  Eld.  Brocket's  leaving,  in  April, 
1845,  the  Church  had  increased  to  one  hundred  and 
thirty,  Bro.  Brocket  was  succeeded  by  Bro.  A.  D. 
Watrous,  in  the  Pastoral  care  of  the  Church,  who 
continued  two  years  and  a  half;  and  was  followed 
by  Eld,  Wm.  Smith,  six  months  ;  who  was  also  suc- 
ceeded by  Eld.  J.  B.  Damon,  in  April,  1848,  who 
continued  to  serve  the  Church,  with  general  accept- 
ance, till  1850.  The  present  number  of  the  Church 
is  174.     Eld.  T.  Barber  is  their  present  Pastor. 

5 


BAPTIST  CHURCH,  NORTH  LYME, 

This  Church  was  organized  in  1810,  by  the  cove- 
nant union  of  six  members.  During  the  year,  twen- 
ty-five others  were  added,  and  one  in  the  following 
year.  During  the  first  three  years,  Eld.  Asa  Wil- 
cox administered  the  Church  ordinances. 

In  1813,  Bro.  Matthew  Bolles  was  ordained 
Pastor,  and  continued  three  years,  during  which,  37 
were  added.  He  was  succeeded  by  Eld.  William 
Palmer,  who  continued  six  years ;  and  25  more  were 
added.  In  1822,  Bro,  Jabez  S.  Swan  received  a 
license  to  preach  the  Gospel.  The  two  succeeding 
years  they  had  no  stated  Pastor,  but  sustained  the 
ordinances  of  the  Church  through  the  ministry  of 
several  of  the  Lord's  embassadors;  and  during  the 
time  were  encouraged  by  the  addition  of  twenty- 
four  by  baptism. 

In  1824,  Bro.  Henry  Stanwood  commenced  la- 
boring with  them,  and  rendered  essential  service  by 
setting  things  in  order,  and  inducing  a  good  degree 
of  discipline.  He  was  subsequently  ordained.  Dur- 
ing his  ministry,  34  were  added  by  baptism. 

In  1827,  Eld.  Tubal  Wakefield  accepted  the 
Pastorate,  and  Bro.  J.  Pilgrim  and  James  Stark  were 
licensed.  Their  numbers  continued  about  the  same. 
Tn  1830,  they  were  again  without  a  Pastor,  but  the 


51 

ordinances  of  the  Church  were  administered  to  them 
by  Eld.  B.  G.  Goff;  and  though  laboring  under  such 
disadvantages,  the  Church  enjoyed  a  good  degree  of 
prosperity. 

In  1831,  Eld.  Alvin  Acklet  became  Pastor,  and 
thus  continued  three  years ;  during  -which  the  Church 
was  strengthened  in  grace  as  well  as  numbers.  The 
same  might  be  said  of  the  two  succeeding  years, 
when  Eld.  Andrew  M.  Smith  dispensed  to  them  the 
word  of  Life. 

In  1846,  Eld.  Ebenezer  Loomis  accepted  the 
Pastorate  for  one  year ;  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
Eld.  E.  Denison,  about  one  year,  when  he  again 
succeeded,  and  continued  two  years.  During  their 
Pastorship,  the  Church  prospered.  For  a  few  months 
they  were  again  without  a  Pastor.  Then  for  a  short 
time,  Eld.  Willson  Cogswell  labored  successfully 
among  them. 

In  1842,  Eld.  Thomas  Dowling  commenced  his 
labors  with  them.  During  whose  ministry,  of  almost 
four  years,  many  difficulties  were  passed  through, 
and  much  good  accomplished. 

In  1846,  Eld.  Chester  Tilden  succeeded  to  the 
Pastorate,  and  was  followed  by  Eld.  Simon  Shailer. 
Bro.  W.  VV.  Meech  was  ordained  their  present  Pas- 
tor in  June,  1850.  Their  present  number  of  mem- 
bers is  144. 


BAPTIST  CHURCH,  HADLTME. 

Early  in  the  present  century,  a  few  families  had 
Baptist  members,  but  scattered  and  disorganized, 
they  were  incapable  of  exerting  any  efficient  influ- 
ence. They  were,  however,  visited  occasionally  by 
Elders  Matthew  Bolles  and  Simeon  Shailer, 
whose  labors  were  blessed,  and  thus  a  branch  of  the 
North  Lyme  Baptist  Church  was  established. 

In  1820,  this  branch  was  organized  into  a  Church, 
under  its  present  name  ;  and  for  several  years  enjoy- 
ed a  good  degree  of  prosperity  ;  but  at  length,  in 
1840,  through  dissensions,  the  Church  became  ex- 
tinct. 

In  1849,  it  was  reorganized,  when  10  were  added, 
making  their  whole  number  32.  They  are  at  pres- 
ent supplied  by  Bro.  Wm.  Harris,  a  licentiate.  Dr. 
A.  M.  Holt,  Clerk. 


BAPTIST  CHURCH,  SAYBROOK. 

As  early  as  1729,  several  persons  in  the  vicinity  of 
Saybrook,  North  Quarter,  (now  Winthrop,)  embrac- 
ed Baptist  sentiments,  and  were  occasionally  supplied 
with  preaching  by  Baptist  ministers  from  the  Eastern 
part  of  the  State,  and  from  Rhode  Island.  As  their 
numbers  increased,  they  began  to  excite  the  jeal- 
ousy of  the  magistrates,  who,  in  common  with  a  ma- 
jority of  the  settlers  at  that  day,  held  that  the  views 
of  the  clergy,  and  the  doctrines  of  the  Saybrook 
Platform  were  the  only  true  rule  of  faith  and  prac- 
tice ;  and  as  the  independent  yeomany  of  Saybrook, 
North  Quarter,  would  not  consent  to  relinquish  their 
views  of  Scripture  doctrine,  and  embrace  those  con- 
tained in  the  bulwark  of  Congregationalism,  the 
Saybrook  Platform,  it  need  not  surprise  us  to  learn 
that  in  February,  1744,  fourteen  persons  were  arrest- 
ed in  this  place  for  holding  a  Baptist  meeting;  the 
charge  brought  against  them  was,  "for  holding  a 
meeting  contrary  to  law,  on  God's  holy  Sabbath  Day.'''' 
They  were  arraingned,  tried,  fined,  and  driven  on 
foot,  through  a  deep  mud,  to  New  London,  a  dis- 
tance of  twenty-five  miles,  and  thrust  into  prison, 
without  fire,  food,  or  beds,  where  they  remained,  en- 
during dreadful  sufferings  for  several  weeks,  and 
probably  would  all  have  perished,  had  not  some  Bap- 
5* 


v 


list  brethren,  residing  in  New  London,  Great  Neck, 
carried  them  provisions.  One  of  those  who  was  thus 
imprisoned,  was  an  infant,  carried  in  her  mother's 
arms,  which  infant  afterwards  became  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Stephen  Webb,  of  Chester.  Another  was  an 
unconverted  man  by  the  name  of  Job  Bulkley,  at 
whose  house  the  meeting  was  held  ;  the  patience 
With  which  these  disciples  of  Christ  bore  their  suf- 
ferings, and  their  fervent  prayers  to  God  for  him  and 
their  persecutors,  (for,  like  Paul  and  Silas,  they  pray- 
ed and  sang  praises  in  the  prison,)  were  blessed  to 
his  conversion.  They  were  released  in  the  Spring 
of  1744,  and  on  the  15th  of  July,  in  the  same  year, 
a  Church  was  constituted,  consisting  of  seventeen 
members,  and  the  name  of  Job  Bulkley  (mentioned 
above,)  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  list. 

From  this  time  till  1776,  being  few  in  numbers, 
and  poor  as  to  this  world's  goods,  they  had  no  stated 
Pastor ;  their  Deacons,  William  Wilcox  and  Amos 
Potter,  generally  took  the  lead  of  their  meetings, 
and  Eld.  Joshua  Morse,  (then  residing  in  Montville,) 
administered  the  ordinances  to  them,  and  labored 
with  them  as  often  as  his  duty  to  his  own  floek  would 
allow.  In  this  connection,  perhaps,  it  may  be  well 
to  give  a  short  biographical  sketch  of  Eld.  Morse, 
as  several  of  the  oldest  members  of  the  Church  were 
converted  under  his  preaching. 

Mr.  Morse  was  born  in  South  Kingston,  R.  I.,  in 
April,  1726.  His  ancestors  were  Baptists.  Young 
Joshua  was  awakened  and  converted,  under  the 
preaching  of  the  celebrated  Whitefield,  at  the  early 


m 

age  of  sixteen ;  and  commenced  preaching  at  the 
age  of  eighteen,  in  Stonington,  Conn.  Here  he  met 
with  much  opposition  from  the  clergy  and  others, 
■\\  ho  declared  that  his  preaching  -was  not  "  according 
to  law."  At  that  time,  according  to  the  law  of  the 
Colony,  every  man  who  permitted  a  dissenting  meet- 
ing to  be  held  in  his  house,  was  subject  to  a  fine  of 
£5  ;  the  minister  who  officiated,  to  a  fine  of  10s. ; 
and  every  hearer,  5s.  The  first  time  Mr.  Morse 
preached  in  Stonington,  he  was  apprehended  by  the 
magistrate,  and  sentenced  to  pay  the  fine  or  be  whip- 
ped ten  lashes.  Being  unable  to  pay  the  fine, 
he  was  led  to  the  whipping-post,  when  the  constable 
who  was  to  execute  the  punishment,  refused  to  per- 
form his  office,  and  after  expostulating  with  the  mag- 
istrate on  the  cruelty  and  injustice  of  the  sentence, 
tendered  the  amount  of  the  fine  from  his  own  pocket. 
The  magistrate,  probably  ashamed  of  his  own  con- 
duct, offered  the  money  to  Mr.  Morse,  and  bid  him 
go  peaceably  away.  Mr.  Morse  declined  receiving 
it,  and  his  persecutors,  finding  him  determined  to 
labor  in  the  cause  of  his  Master,  left  him  for  that 
time.  In  one  of  his  meetings,  a  Reverend  gentle- 
man came  in  soon  after  he  commenced,  and  putting 
his  hand  upon  his  mouth,  bid  another  man  strike  him. 
At  another  time,  a  man  came  in  while  he  was  preach- 
ing, and  struck  him  with  so  much  violence,  as  to 
bring  him  to  the  floor.  At  another  meeting,  he  was 
knocked  down  while  engaged  in  prayer,  and  dragged 
out  of  the  house  by  the  hair  of  his  head,  down  some 
high  steps  to  the  ground,  and  so  severely  bruised  in 


56 

his  head  and  face,  that  the  scars  remained  until  his 
dying  day.  He  was  often  threatened  by  mobs,  who 
were  prevented  from  injuring  him,  only  by  his  great 
presence  of  mind,  and  his  meek  and  forgiving  spirit. 
But  amid  all  his  persecutions,  his  labors  were 
abundant,  and  they  were  crowned  with  success.  He 
was  ordained  in  1749  or  1750,  and  resided  in  Mont- 
ville,  till  1779,  except  two  years  which  he  spent  in 
Fishkill,  N.  Y.  In  1779,  he  removed  to  Sandisfield, 
Mass.,  where  he  remained  till  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  July,  1795,  in  the  70th  year  of  his  age, 
and  the  53d  of  his  ministry. 

In  1776,  Eld.  Elipualet  Lester  whs  ordained 
Pastor  of  the  Church,  and  continued  his  ministry, 
(with  the  exception  of  two  years,)  till  1796,  when  he 
resigned.  Mr.  Lester  was  born  in  New  London, 
Great  Neck,  about  the  year  1730.  It  is  supposed 
that  one  or  both  his  parents  were  Baptists,  The 
time  of  his  conversion  we  cannot  state  with  accuracy  : 
it  seems  that  he  was  awakened  under  the  preaching 
of  the  celebrated  Whitefield,  in  1745  or  1746,  and  it 
is  probable  he  was  converted  soon  after.  It  appears 
that  he  had  preached  for  a  considerable  length  of 
time,  to  the  Church  in  Waterford,*  before  he  remov- 
ed to  Saybrook.  Mr.  Lester  was  an  acceptable 
preacher  —  a  man  mighty  in  the  Scriptures,  and  one 
who  shunned  not  to  declare  the  whole  counsel  of 
God.      During  his  ministry,  the  Church  were  called 

*  He  was  an  assistant  to   Pastor  Howard.    See  their 
History. 

I 


57 

to  pass  through  many  trials,  yet  their  attachment  to 
him  remained  unshaken,  and  his  labors  among-  them 
were  very  successful.  After  his  resignation,  he  re- 
moved to  Killingworth,  now  Clinton,  Conn.,  where 
he  remained  several  years,  occasionally  preaching  to 
the  little  band  of  Baptists  who  assembled  there;  but 
toward  the  close  of  his  life,  he  removed  to  North 
Bristol,  now  North  Madison,  Conn.,  where  he  fell 
asleep  in  Jesus,  in  June,  1815,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-six. 

Soon  after  his  resignation,  they  obtained  the  ser- 
vices of  Eld.  William  Welch,  who  remained  with 
them  till  1801,  when  he  removed  to  East  Hampton, 
Conn.,  where  he  deceased  in  1830  or  1831. 

In  1802,  Eld.  George  Atwell  became  their  Pas- 
tor, and  remained  with  them  till  1806.  Mr.  Atwell 
was  born  in  Montville,  Conn.,  in  September,  1766. 
During  his  ministry,  about  seventy  persons  were  ad- 
ded to  the  Church.  After  his  removal  from  Say- 
brook,  he  settled  with  the  Church  in  Enfield,  Conn., 
where  he  remained  till  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
April,  1814.  During  the  whole  of  his  ministry,  his 
health  was  feeble  —  yet  he  ceased  not  to  labor  zeal- 
ously in  the  cause  of  his  divine  Master. 

In  1807,  Eld.  Asa  Spencer  became  their  Pastor, 
and  remained  with  them  about  two  years.  No  con- 
siderable accessions  were  made  during  his  ministry. 

In  1810.  Eld.  Wm.  Witter  removed  here,  but 
was  not  ordained  till  181 1.  {Je  remained  with  them 
till  1814,  when  he  removed  to  Colchester,  and  after- 
wards to  the  State  of  New  York. 


58 

In  1814,  Eld.  Samuel  West  became  their  Paste, 
and  remained  with  them  eight  years.  Mr.  West 
was  born  in  Hopkinton,  R.  I.,  Oct  6,  1776.  He  was 
the  fourth  son  of  Eld.  Thomas  West,  who  at  that 
timo  was  Pastor  of  the  Sabbatarian  Church  at  Hop- 
kinton. He  was  awakened  under  the  preaching  of 
his  father,  when  a  little  more  than  eleven  years  of 
age.  After  remaining  for  more  than  five  months  in 
a  state  bordering  on  despair,  being  unwilling  to  re- 
veal his  feelings  to  any  one,  he  was  at  last  brought 
out  of  darkness  into  light,  and  so  sudden  and  over- 
whelming was  the  change,  that  he  sank  to  the  earth. 
He  did  not  unite  with  the  Church  till  the  following 
year,  and  previous  to  his  baptism,  was  in  great  dark- 
ness of  mind  ;  but  after  the  ordinance  was  adminis- 
tered, light  broke  into  his  soul,  and  he  addressed 
those  who  had  assembled,  with  much  energy  and 
pathos. 

In  1782  or  1783,  his  father  removed  to  Vermont, 
and  in  1785,  Mr.  West,  having  married,  followed  him 
thither.  He  resided  in  Vermont  nine  years,  and  it 
was  there  that  he  first  became  impressed  with  the 
conviction  that  it  was  his  duty  to  preach  the  Gospel. 
Desirous  of  divesting  himself  of  these  impressions, 
he  removed  from  Vermont,  and  having  left  his  family 
in  Griswold,  Conn.,  proceeded  to  the  Susquehanna 
County,  in  Pennsylvania,  (at  that  time  a  wilderness,) 
and  purchased  a  tract  of  land  there,  thinking  that  in 
a  country,  so  thinly  settled,  he  should  find  no  hearers, 
and  consequently  should  be  exonerated  from  the  duty 
of  preaching.     Having  made  the  necessary  prepara- 


59 

tions,  he  returned  with  the  intention  of  removing  his 
family  thither,  but  the  Lord  met  him  on  the  way,  for 
before  they  had  proceeded  more  than  ten  miles,  he 
was  attacked  with  the  yellow  fever,  and  compelled 
to  stop.  In  this  sickness,  he  was  brought  very  low, 
and  on  his  recovery,  resolved  no  longer  to  contend 
with  the  Almighty.  He  accordingly  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  the  vicinity  of  Norwich,  and  was  licensed 
by  the  Norwich  Church,  (at  that  time  a  branch  of 
the  Church  in  South  Kingston,  R.  I.,)  in  the  year 
1798.  He  was  ordained  by  the  same  Church  in  1799, 
and  labored  with  the  little  Church  in  Bozrah,  till 
3802,  when  he  removed  to  New  London,  and  became 
a  colleague  with  the  venerable  Zadoc  Darrow,  of 
Waterford,  till  1304,  when  a  Church  having  been 
constituted  in  New  London,  Mr.  West  became  its 
Pastor.  He  remained  with  them  ten  years,  and 
during  his  residence  there,  several  revivals  occurred, 
in  one  of  which,  nearly  one  hundred  were  added  to 
the  Church. 

In  1814,  he  removed  to  Sayville,  as  stated  above, 
and  during  his  labors  here,  thirty-six  were  added  to 
the  Church.  He  never  dissolved  his  connection 
with  this  Church,  but,  after  removing  from  this  place, 
preached  with  several  Churches  in  the  neighborhood, 
till  the  time  of  his  decease,  which  occurred  in  North 
Madison,  Conn.,  in  1837,  in  the  seventy-first  year  of 
his  age,  and  thirty-eighth  of  his  ministry. 

Since  Mr.  West's  removal,  the  Pastors  of  the 
Church  have  been  as  follows :  — 


60 

Elders  Joseph  Glazier,  Russell  Jennings, 
Wm.  Denison,  (during  whose  ministry  sixty-nine 
members  were  dismissed  to  form  the  Fourth  Church 
in  Saybrook,  now  the  Chester  Church,)  Baruch 
Beckwith,  John  H.  Baker,  Frederick  Ketcham, 
H.  S.  Haven,  Pierpont  Brockett,  Albert  Den- 
ison, R.  K.  Mills,  Harmon  Ellis,  and  Ralph  H. 
Maine,  their  present  Pastor,  settled  in  June,  1850. 

Their  present  Church  edifice  was  erected  in  1773. 
Its  dimensions  are  about  thirty-two  by  twenty-five 
feet.  It  was  moved  and  repaired  in  1831.  The 
Church  has  also  a  pleasant  Parsonage  ;  but  are  strug- 
gling with  much  difficulty  to  support  the  Gospel 
among  them.    The  present  number  is  54. 


COLCHESTER  BxiPTIST  CHURCH. 

This  Church  was  organized  in  September,  1780, 
and  consisted  of  eleven  members.  The  blessing  of 
the  Lord  was  on  them.  In  less  than  one  year,  their 
number  was  more  than  doubled.  One  of  the  breth- 
ren, Christopher  Palmer,  soon  gave  evidence  of 
a  call  from  God,  to  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry. 
The  Church  appointed  him  as  their  leader,  and  un- 
der-shepherd  ;  and  by  the  blessing  of  God,  on  their 
mutual  labors  at  the  time  of  his  ordination,  which 
took  place  in  1782,  numbered  43  members. 

They  enjoyed  the  ministry  of  this  good  man  for 
about  twenty  years  ;  dming  which  time,  they  were 
increased  to  100  members  ;  but  they  passed  through 
severe  trials,  in  consequence  of  a  difference  of  views 
on  the  subject  of  communion.  As  early  a3  1784,  the 
majority  were  decidedly  in  favor  of  strict  commun- 
ion ;  but  voted  to  give  liberty  to  a  few,  who  request- 
ed it,  to  commune  with  Congregational  Churches. 
This  vote  has  ever  been  a  fruitful  source  of  uneasi- 
ness among  the  members ;  its  effects  are  still  se- 
verely felt,  and  should  teach  the  impropriety  of  all 
attempts  to  compromise,  at  the  expense  of  principle. 

From  1801  to  1806,  the  Church  was  without  a 
Pastor    but  received  occasional  visits  from  Elders 

(J 


62 

Wilcox,  Morse,  Wightman,  and  others,  and  about 
60  were  added  to  the  number.    ' 

During  the  year  1806,  Eliada  Blakesly  was  or- 
dained Pastor.  He  labored  with  them  about  four 
years,  when  Bro.  Wm.  Palmer  settled  with  them ; 
by  whom  he  was  called  to  ordination  in  1812.  Eld. 
Palmer  continued  with  them,  with  the  exception  of 
one  or  two  years,  until  1824.  During  his  ministry, 
the  Church  enjoyed  a  good  degree  of  prosperity  ; 
125  were  added  to  them.  He  was  succeeded  by  Eld. 
Tubal  Wakefield,  who  remained  about  three 
years ;  after  which,  they  were  supplied  by  Eld.  H. 
Wilcox,  until  his  death,  in  1832.  After  the  lament- 
ed death  of  Bro.  Wilcox,  the  Lord  showed  mercy  on 
them  by  sending  among  them  Eld.  B.  G.  Goff  ;  dur- 
ing whose  ministry,  about  40  were  added.  After 
him,  Eld.  L.  Meech  succeeded  one  year  in  the  Pas- 
torate. During  the  year  1843,  they  enjoyed  a  prec- 
ious revival,  under  the  labors  of  Eld.  B.  Hicks.  The 
two  succeeding  years,  Eld.  E.  Loomis  was  Pastor. 

Early  in  1846,  they  called  Bro.  Percival  Mat- 
thewson  to  the  Pastoral  office ;  and  in  the  course 
of  the  year,  he  was  ordained.  He  labored  three 
years  with  them,  and  baptized  26.  The  Church  was 
then  supplied  one  year  by  Bro.  Wm.  W.  Meech,  a 
licentiate  of  the  First  Church  in  Norwich. 

The  present  year,  1850,  they  are  favored  with  the 
labors  of  Bro.  H.  B.  Whittiivgton,  who  is  also  a 
licentiate.  Thus  the  Lord  has  led  his  people,  so 
that,  instead  of  the  fathers  are  the  children,  who  are 
still  trusting  in  him.    Their  present  number  is  107. 


BAP.  CII.,  COLCHESTER,  BOROUGH. 

In  June,  1836,  a  number  of  brethren  and  sisters, 
living  in  Colchester,  belonging  to  different  Baptist 
Churches,  met,  to  take  into  consideration  whether  it 
would  be  expedient,  under  existing  circumstances, 
to  be  organized  into  a  Church  or  not ;  if  so,  it  might 
tend  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  the  Great  Head  of 
the  Church,  the  spiritual  good  of  those  who  were 
willing  to  engage  in  taking  an  additional  responsi- 
bility upon  themselves,  and  the  salvation  of  those 
around  us  who  had  not  found  the  Saviour  precious  to 
their  souls.  Accordingly,  the  courage  and  religious 
zeal  of  but  few,  comparatively  speaking,  prompted 
them  to  use  their  money  and  influence  with  a  desire 
to  build  a  Meeting-House,  suitable  and  convenient 
for  the  worship  of  Almighty  God,  to  be  located  in 
the  beautiful  and  pleasant  village  of  Colchester, 
Borough. 

In  April  of  183(5,  agreeably  to  an  invitation  pre- 
sented to  Eld.  Andrew  M.  Smith,  by  a  few  who 
were  organized  into  a  Baptist  Society,  which  was 
accepted,  commenced  his  ministerial  labors  in  the 
Congregational  Conference  House,  on  the  Sabbath, 
until,  in  the  month  of  August,  of  the  same  year,  when 
the  Meeting  House  was  in  readiness  for  religious 
worship.     Consequently  it  was  dedicated  with  appro- 


64 

priate  religious  services,  and  a  Church,  consisting  of 
thirty  members,  mostly  females,  was  organized  on 
the  same  day,  the  4th  of  August,  1836.  Sermon  by 
Eld.  Gustavus  F.  Davis,  then  Pastor  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  in  Hartford,  from  Acts  28 :  22.  "  For 
as  concerning  this  sect,  we  know  that  every  where 
it  is  spoken  against."  Eld.  Andrew  M.  Smith  con- 
tinued his  ministerial  labors  until  September,  1839, 
during  which  time,  the  Church,  being  in  its  infant 
state,  was  blessed  with  the  stated  ministry  ;  twenty- 
one  were  added  by  baptism,  and  twenty  by  letter, 
making  in  all,  a  Church  of  sixty-nine  members  ;  no 
death  having  occurred  in  the  Church  during  the 
time ;  but  one  dismissed  by  letter,  one  other  exclud- 
ed, leaving  the  sixty-nine,  who  were  disposed  to  be 
co-workers  with  God,  who  felt  an  earnest  desire  for 
the  promotion  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  and  to 
contend  earnestly  for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the 
saints. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1839,  the  Church  was 
left  destitute  of  an  under  shepherd  ;  when,  for  a 
time,  the  desk  was  mostly  supplied  by  exchange,  un- 
til the  return  of  Eld.  Augustus  Bollesfrom  the  West, 
who  was  solicited  to  supply  the  desk  for  a  time, 
and  afterwards  became  the  Pastor,  and  remained 
about  two  years,  or  until  the  Fall  of  1841.  During 
the  ministration  of  Eld.  Bolles,  the  Church  was  again 
comforted  and  encouraged  still  to  persevere,  to  be 
steadfast  and  immoveable,  always  abounding  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord.  There  were  a  few  added  during 
the  two  years  of  his  ministry,  enough  to  encourage 


6$ 

the  Church  to  believe  the  Lord  had  not  forgotten  to 
be  gracious,  for  he  was  adding  to  her  numbers,  and 
we  trust,  by  the  faithful  ministry  of  his  word,  was 
adding  to  her  graces. 

In  the  Fall  of  1844,  Bro.  Holies,  in  consequence 
of  his  advanced  age  and  the  recent  decease  of  his 
wife,  requested  a  dismission  from  his  Pastoral  la- 
bors ;  which  was  complied  with  upon  his  introducing 
as  a  substitute,  Bro.  Robert  C.  Mills,  a  licentiate, 
from  New  York,  whose  labors  being  acceptable,  was, 
on  the  17th  of  March,  1842,  ordained  as  our  Pastor. 
Sermon  by  Wm.  R.  Williams,  D.  D.,  of  New  York, 
from  Ezra  10:  4.  "Arise,"  &c.  The  Church  was 
again  comforted  with  the  prospects  of  a  man  of  God, 
who  would  not  only  feed  the  flock,  but  prove  himself 
an  instrument  in  his  hand  in  turning  many  to  righte- 
ousness, which  was  realized  during  the  four  years  of 
his  ministry  with  the  Church  and  congregation. — 
During  his  ministry,  60  were  added  to  the  Church, 
of  which  number  forty-seven  were  baptized  into  the 
fellowship  of  the  Church,  others  by  letter,  and  some  by 
experience,  who  had  been  connected  with  Churches 
of  other  denominations.  It  would  not  be  superfluous 
to  say,  the  Church  had  not  experienced  many  trials 
ere  this  time  ;  her  time  of  trial  seemed  to  have  its 
origin  in  the  commencement,  or  her  infant  state, 
chiefly  in  consequence  of  a  strong  Pedo-Haptist  in- 
fluence being  exerted  against  her,  and  the  embar- 
rassed circumstances  in  regard  to  pecuniary  matters ; 
there  were  few  deaths  in  the  Church,  but  many  re- 
movals by  letter ;  yet,  upon  the  whole,  there  was  a 
G* 


66 

gradual  increase  yearly.  Eld.  Mills  closed  his  min- 
isterial labors  with  the  Church  in  January,  1845. 

In  April,  1845,  Eld.  Pierpont  Brockett  was 
settled  Pastor  of  the  Church,  by  a  unanimous  vote  of 
the  Society.  His  labors  were  eminently  blessed  to 
the  encouragement  of  the  Church,  during  the  four 
years  of  his  ministry.  The  Church  were  instructed 
by  one  of  the  best  of  Pastors,  whose  labors  and 
prayers  will  long  be  cherished,  especially  by  the 
young,  who  early  gave  themselves  to  the  Saviour, 
and  by  him  were  baptized  into  the  likeness  of  a 
Saviour's  death.  Twenty  were  added  by  baptism 
during  his  ministry,  and  about  forty  by  letter  and 
experience. 

In  April,  1845,  God,  in  his  providence,  sent  the 
Church  Eld.  George  VV.  Pendleton,  who  became 
their  Pastor.  His  labors  have  been  signally  bless- 
ed ;  and  the  Church,  generally,  has  experienced 
much  of  revival  influence,  and  have  been  greatly 
enlarged  in  regard  to  numbers  Seventy-nine  were 
added  by  baptism ;  twenty-one  by  letter  and  expe- 
rience; making  in  all,  during  his  ministry  with  this 
Church,  an  addition  of  one  hundred.  Their  present 
number  is  219.  G.  W.  Pendleton,  Pastor.  S. 
Smith,  Clerk. 


BAPTIST  CHURCH,  SALEM. 


Of  the  early  history  of  this  ancient  Church,  but 
little  is  known.  About  the  middle  of  the  last  cen- 
tury, Baptist  ministers  from  Rhode  Island,  and  from 
New  London  and  vicinity,  occasionally  visited  Sa- 
lem, and  preached  the  Gospel  to  its  inhabitants. 

In  17(!7,  a  Baptist  Church  of  150  members  existed 
in  town,  over  which  Ichabod  Allen  was  settled  as 
Pastor.  But  little  is  now  known  of  the  ministry  of 
Eld.  Allen,  or  the  length  of  the  time  he  was  with 
this  people. 

Abel  Palmer  was  ordained  among  them  in  1785. 
From  1798  to  1811,  Eld.  Asa  Wilcox  was  their 
Pastor.  From  1813  to  1817,  Eld.  W.  Witter  went 
in  and  out  before  them  ;  when,  for  several  years, 
they  were  destitute  of  a  Pastor.  Eld.  A.  Wilcox 
returned  to  them  in  1828,  and  continued  till  his 
death,  in  1834.  They  then  remained  destitute  of  a 
Pastor  till  1842,  when  it  had  dwindled  to  so  small  a 
number,  and  they  were  so  scattered,  that  its  exist- 
ence was  scarcely  visible. 

In  this  state  of  things,  Eld.  C.  Leffingwell  vis- 
ited them,  in  1842,  and  God's  blessing  followed  his 
hibors.  The  Church  were  revived  ;  their  old  Meet- 
ing House,  which  had  stood  for  more  than  a  hundred 


68 

years,  was  replaced  by  a  modern  and  convenient 
one,  in  a  better  location  ;  and  in  1843,  a  precious  re- 
vival followed,  which  greatly  revived  the  hopes  of 
the  children  of  Zion,  and  strengthened  the  prostrate 
cause.  Since  that  period,  the  Church  has  been 
supplied  the  most  of  the  time  with  the  preached 
Gospel. 

Elders  C.  Leffingwell,  L.  Meech,  E.  Loomis,  B. 
G.  Goff,  and  others  occasionally,  have  labored 
among  them  acceptably  and  profitably. 

Their  present  Deacon  is  A.  H.  Fish.  The  pres- 
number  forty-five. 


BAPTIST  CHURCH,  LEBANON. 

In  the  year,  1804,  the  Independent  Congregational 
Society  in  Lebanon,  built  a  Meeting  House  on  the 
North  end  of  the  green  ;  but  as  there  was  some  dif- 
ficulty in  the  Society,  respecting  the  location  and 
erection  of  the  house,  the  Congregational  Consoci- 
ation, on  application  from  a  committee  appointed  by 
the  Society,  refused  to  supply  them  with  preaching. 
They  then  applied  to  the  Baptist  Association,  who 
agreed  to  supply  them  twelve  Sabbaths.  Among  the 
ministers  that  supplied  them  with  preaching,  was 
Eld.  Nehemiah  Dodge  ;  and  as  the  Society  were 
pleased  with  his  services,  they  agreed  with  him  to 
become  their  minister. 

In  September,  1805,  a  Baptist  Church  was  consti- 
tuted, consisting  of  thirty-one  members,  and  Eldv 
Dodge  became  their  Pastor.  The  Society  continu- 
ed to  be  a  Congregational  Society,  until  1821,  when 
the  Constitution  was  so  altered,  as  to  make  it  the 
Independent  Baptist  Society.  The  supplying  of  the 
pulpit  with  preaching  has  always  been  done  by  the 
Society.  They  continued  to  occupy  the  old  Meet- 
ing House  until  1841,  when  they  built  a  new  one, 
where  they  now  worship. 

The  ministers  and  brethren  that  composed  the 
council  at  the  organization  of  the  Church,  were  as 


70 

follows,  viz :  Eldere  Jason  Lee,  of  Lyme ;  Joseph 
Connell,  of  Providence ;  Elisha  Williams,  of  Bev- 
erly, Mass.;  John  Gano  Whitman,  of  Groton;  Sim- 
eon Dickenson,  of  East  Haddam  ;  Asa  Wilcox,  of 
Colchester  ;  Bros,  Enoch  Green,  of  Middletown  ; 
Roswell  Burrows,  of  Groton ;  Elds.  Thomas  Bald- 
win, of  Boston;  Stephen  Gano,  of  Providence;  Silas 
Burroughs,  of  Groton;  Daniel  Wildman,*  of  Mid- 
dletown;  Amos  Reed,  of  Lisbon  ;  Nehemiah  Dodge, 
of  Lebanon;  Brn.  Elisha  Blakesley,  of  Bristol,  and 
John  Grant,  of  Middletown. 

During  the  ministry  of  Eld.  Dodge,  nothing  of 
special  interest  occurred;  but  there  were  additions 
from  time  to  time  to  their  number. 

Eld.  Daniel  Potman  commenced  his  labors  as 
Pastor  of  the  Church,  June  7,  1815.  During  his 
ministry  there  was  no  special  awakening  among 
this  people. 

Eld.  Esek  Brown  commenced  his  labors  Septem- 
ber, 1818.  and  closed  them  by  death,  September  11 
18-33.     During  his  ministry,  the  Church  were  greatly 
blessed  ;  there  were  additions  from  time  to  time,  to 
their  number,  until  1831  and  1832,  when  the  Lord 

*Eld.  Daniel  Wildman,  father  of  the  present  Pastor  of 
this  Church,  wi-.s  bora  in  Danhury,  Conn.;  ordained  in  a 
barn  in  VVolcott.  and,  after  a  successful  ministry  in  the 
Pastoral  office  tor  many  yoars,  over  different  Churches,  he 
finally  deceased  in  the  family  of  his  son,  in  Lebanon,  in 
February,  1849,  in  the  85th  year  of  his  age,  ripe  for  the  ce- 
lestial abode  of  his  Master  on  high. 


71 

opened  the  windows  of  heaven,  and  poured  down  a 
mighty  shower  of  divine  mercy  upon  the  Church  and 
people.  As  the  fruits  of  the  revival,  about  104  were 
added  to  the  Church  by  baptism. 

Eld.  John  H.  Baker  commenced  his  labors  April, 
1834.  During  his  ministry,  about  25  were  added  by 
baptism. 

Eld.  Baker  was  succeeded  by  Eld.  Levi  Meech, 
who  commenced  his  labors  April,  1836,  and  a  few 
were  added  to  the  Church. 

Eld.  Nathan  Wildman,  the  present  Pastor,  com- 
menced his  labors  April,  1837.  Since  which  time, 
the  Lord  has  revived  his  work  at  different  times,  and 
about  94  have  been  added  by  baptism.  The  whole 
number  who  have  united  with  the  Church  are  504. 
The  present  number  is  197. 


CENTRAL  BAP.  CH.,  EAST  HADDAM. 

This  Church,  located  at  first  on  Bulkley's  Hill, 
in  the  West  part  of  Colchester,  was  constituted  in 
1809.  It  consisted  at  first  of  20  members,  and  was 
called  the  Third  Baptist  Church  of  Colchester.  One 
of  the  first  votes  read  as  follows : 

Voted,  To  make  a  point  of  attending  covenant  meet- 
ings every  month,  and  if  brethren  and  sisters  are  absent, 
they  shall  assign  a  reason  the  next  day,  why  they  were 
absent. 

The  records  of  the  Church  show  that  this  meeting 
was  attended  very  punctually,  and  with  extraordinary 
benefit.  In  1810.  Eld.  E.  Blakeslet  accepted  the 
pastoral  charge,  and  John  Bigelow,  Jr.,  was  ordain- 
ed Deacon.  Their  number  continued  about  the 
same,  until  1819,  when  eight  were  added  by  baptism. 
In  1820,  Bro.  A.  Ackley  was  baptized,  and  G.  B.  At- 
well,  John  Bigelow,  Jr.,  and  Stephen  Benjamin,  were 
licensed  to  preach. 

In  1825,  they  erected  their  first  house  of  worship, 
located  in  the  Eastern  part  of  East  Haddam.  Dur- 
ing the  same  year,  a  dissention  arose  in  regard  to 
some  of  the  Church  funds,  and  seven  were  excluded. 

A.  Ackley  was  ordained  their  Pastor  in  1827,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Eld.  G.  B.  Goff,  in  1831,  who 
baptized  eight  persons. 


73 

In  1833,  Eld.  A.  D.  Wat  rods  took  the  Pastoral 
office,  and  a  few  were  added.  From  this  time  till 
1842,  no  record  was  kept.  Then  13ro.  C.  W.  Pot- 
ter labored  with  them  for  some  time,  by  whose  in- 
strumentality much  good  was  accomplished. 

In  1845,  a  new  house  of  worship  was  erected,  in 
a  more  populous  district,  and  new  Articles  of  Faith 
adopted ;  and  changed  their  name  from  Colchester 
and  East  Haddam  Baptist  Church,  to  Central  East 
Haddam  From  that  time  to  the  present,  they  have 
enjoyed,  besides  the  labors  of  various  brethren  in  the 
ministry,  the  Pastorship  of  Elders  H.  Wakeraan, 
and  J.  Gardner,  the  present  incumbent. 

The  whole  number  who  have  been  connected  with 
the  Church,  186.     Their  present  number,  85. 


IIADDAM  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

Many  years  previous  to  the  organization  of  this 
Church,  a  few  Baptist  families  resided  in  Haddam. 
As  early  as  1/92,  some  individuals  belonging  to 
these  families,  united  with  the  Chatham  Baptist 
Church.  These  members  became  a  branch,  and  in- 
creased gradually.  As  the  Church  was  located  at 
East  Hampton,  a  distance  of  eight  or  ten  miles,  the 
members  found  it  more  convenient  to  hold  separate 
meetings  in  Haddam.  Their  first  meetings  were 
held  in  private  houses,  the  brethren  from  Chester 
meeting  with  them,  occasionally,  and  aiding  them  in 
carrying  on  their  meetings  in  a  social  way,  by  con- 
ference and  prayer.  The  times  were  trying,  but  the 
names  of  several  brethren  are  gratefully  remember- 
ed for  their  zeal  and  piety,  and  adherence  to  our 
precious  cause. 

In  1803,  the  brethren  obtained  the  use  of  the 
Meeting-House  erected  in  1793,  by  the  New  Lights, 
or  Separatists,  (so  called,)  a  class  of  conscientious 
persons  who  separated  from  the  "Standing  Order," 
the  better  to  secure  and  enjoy  their  freedom  in  the 
worship  of  God. 

After  the  death  of  their  minister,  Charles  Smith, 
in  1800,  their  meetings  were  given  up.  Subsequent- 
ly the  most  of  those  brethren  became  Baptists ;  and» 


75 

without  any  formal  agreement,  the  pulpit  was  open- 
ed to  ministers  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  The 
Baptists  continued  to  occupy  this  house,  principally, 
till  1833,  when  their  present  house  of  worship  waa 
erected. 

In  1804,  a  precious  revival  was  enjoyed,  and  18 
were  added  by  baptism.  In  1806,  Eld.  Simeon  Dick- 
inson supplied  the  pulpit.  Amasa  Smith,  Simon 
Shailer,  Samuel  West,  William  Palmer,  each  labor- 
ed among  this  people,  previously  to  1822,  when  the 
Church  was  publicly  recognized  by  a  Council,  call- 
ed for  the  purpose.  Eld.  Asa  Wilcox  preached  the 
sermon.  The  organization  was  commenced  in  har- 
mony with  the  brethren  of  the  Chatham  Church,  and 
the  Churches  in  the  vicinity. 

Shortly  after  the  organization,  the  services  of  Eld. 
Simon  Shailer  were  secured,  who  continued  his 
labors  with  them  until  1830.  In  1824,  a  season  of 
revival  brought  in  forty-two,  who  were  added  by  bap- 
tism ;  and  forty-four,  also,  in  the  year  1828. 

In  1830,  he  was  succeeded  by  Davis  T.  Shailer, 
who  continued  one  year  ;  William  Denison  preached 
one  year;  Samuel  West,  one  year;  Alfred  Gates, 
two  years;  then  Simon  Shailer  again,  four  years ; 
Ebenezer  Loomis,  one  year;  Frederick  Wightman, 
three  years  ;  Russell  Jennings,  two  years  ;  and  then 
again  Simon  Shailer,  three  years  ;  and  A.  D.  Wat- 
rous,  five  months.  Their  present  Pastor  is  Albert 
Baldwin,  who  entered  upon  his  labors  August 
I,  1850. 


Elders  Simon  Shailer  and  Davis  T.  Shailer  were 
both  licensed  and  ordained  by  this  Church.  Two 
others  have  also  been  licensed,  Nathan  E.  Shailer 
and  Andrew  Smith.  The  three  Shailers  are  still 
engaged  in  the  ministry.  Bro.  Smith  has  relin- 
quished preaching,  on  account  of  ill  health. 

Another  of  its  members,  Julius  Shailer,  was  licens- 
ed in  Middletown,  and  is  now  Pastor  of  the  Second 
Church  in  Roxbury,  Mass. 

Present  number  of  members,  ninety-seven.  Lewis 
D.  Brooks,  is  the  Church  Clerk. 


1st  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  NORWICH. 

Earnest  efforts  have  been  made  by  the  Committee, 
to  obtain  from  the  1st  Baptist  Church  in  Norwich,  an 
outline  of  their  History;  the  Church  were  visited  by 
one  of  the  Committee  ;  and  the  Pastor  and  several 
of  the  brethren  were  earnestly  requested  to  see  that 
it  was  prepared.  They  gave  assurances  that  it  might 
be  expected,  and  after  waiting  for  it  several  weeks, 
the  Committee  have  been  officially  informed,  that  by 
a  vote  of  the  Church,  the  History  is  withheld  from 
publication.  The  Committee  regret  this,  as  the 
Church  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  Association,  and 
its  history,  which  has  been  written  out,  in  part,  at 
least,  is  exceedingly  interesting. 

The  Church  was  organized  in  1800,  and  has  ful- 
filled a  successful  and  beneficent  mission,  for  over  a 
half  century.  It  now  numbers  232  members;  hav- 
ing a  good  Meeting  House,  and  an  interesting  con- 
gregation. The  venerable  John  Sterrf,  now  de- 
ceased, and  whose  praise  still  lingers  in  this  ancient 
Church,  was  its  honored  Pastor  for  nearly  twenty 
years.    Eld.  J.  M.  Coley,  is  the  present  Pastor. 


7- 


CENTRAL  BAP.  CHURCH,  NORWICH. 

On  the  first  of  April,  1840,  the  1st  Baptist  Church 
in  Norwich,  obtained  the  services  of  Rev.  M.  G. 
Clarke,  who  continued  to  supply  them  until  August 
following,  when  it  was  believed  the  many  difficulties 
under  which  the  Baptist  interest  labored,  might  be 
much  lessened,  if  not  removed,  by  a  change  of  lo- 
cation. So  many  embarrassments,  however,  seemed 
to  attend  this  proposition,  that  it  was  abandoned  ; 
but  it  was  finally  decided  to  commence  a  new  inter- 
est in  a  more  central  and  advantageous  situation. 

Accordingly,  on  the  evening  of  September  15, 
1840,  thirty-seven  brethren  and  sisters,  residing  in 
the  place,  but  not  connected  with  the  1st  Church, 
met  at  the  house  of  Bro.  Avery  Bromley,  on  Union 
Street,  and  organized  a  2d  Church,  to  be  called  the 
Central  Baptist  Church  of  Norwich.  Articles  of 
Faith  and  Church  Covenant  were  adopted,  and  Rev. 
M.  G.  Clarke  was  chosen  to  be  their  Pastor. 

A  Council  called  to  recognize  the  new  Church, 
met  on  the  22d  of  the  same  month,  consisting  of 
delegates  from  the  following  Churches  : — 1st  Nor- 
wich, Bozrah,  Lebanon,  Colchester,  Packersville, 
Jewitt  City,  Voluntown,  and  Preston  City.  Besides 
which,  were  invited,  Rev.  I.  R.  Stewart,  and  Rev.  E. 
Denison.     The  Church  was  duly  recognized,  and  in 


79 

the  evening  public  services  were  held  at  the  Town 
Hall,  where  a  sermon  was  preached  by  Eld.  Tubal 
Wakefield,  and  the  hand  of  fellowship  extended  to 
the  new  Church,  through  their  Pastor,  by  Eld.  B. 
Cook.  At  the  next  meeting  of  that  body,  the  Church 
was  received  a  member  of  the  New  London  Asso- 
ciation. 

The  Town  Hall  was  engaged  as  a  place  of  wor- 
ship ;  and  so  much  did  the  congregation  increase, 
that  the  place  was  soon  nearly  filled.  About  this 
time,  also,  the  1st  Church  being  destitute  of  a  Pas- 
tor, many  of  its  members  took  letters,  and  united 
with  the  Central  Church.  The  Lord  evidently  smil- 
ed on  the  enterprise.  Seriousness  pervaded  the  as- 
semblies, and  sinners  began  to  inquire  the  way  of  life. 
Nor  was  it  long  before  joyful  converts  were  seeking 
the  gates  of  Zion,  and  the  baptismal  waters  were 
visited  nearly  every  month  during  the  year  ;  and  it 
was  about  this  time,  also,  that  three  brethren,  Elisha 
W.  Beckwith,  Erastus  Regwin,  and  George  Lovis, 
were  chosen  to  serve  the  Church  as  Deacons. 

It  now  became  evident  that  the  comfort  and  pros- 
perity of  the  Church  depended  much  on  their  hav- 
ing a  house  to  worship  in.  But  after  the  severe 
struggles  through  which  they  had  passed,  few  in 
numbers,  and  feeble  in  means,  it  was  difficult  to  see 
how  such  an  object  could  be  attained.  But  after 
prayer  and  consultation,  trusting  in  God,  it  was  de- 
cided to  go  forward,  and  make  the  attempt.  A  lot 
centrally  and  favorably  located  on  Union  Street,  was 
obtained,  and  in  the  following  Spring  a  house  was 


80 

commenced,  which  was  finished  at  a  cost  of  about 
$11,000,  and  dedicated  the  14th  of  December  fol- 
lowing, (1841.)  Eld.  R.  H.  Neale,  of  Boston,  preach- 
ed on  the  occasion.  So  was  the  good  hand  of  their 
God  upon  them. 

At  the  close  of  their  first  year,  the  returns  of  the 
Church  to  the  Association  showed  sixty-eight  addi- 
tions by  baptism ;  ninety-three  by  letter ;  six  dis- 
missed ;  and  two  died ;  one  of  which  was  the  Pas- 
tor's wife ;  he  being  called  to  taste  a  mingled  cup, 
while  he  rejoices  at  God's  protecting  goodness, 
mourns  the  bereavements  of  his  hand. 

During  their  second  year,  52  were  added  by  bap- 
tism, and  41  by  letter  ;  whole  number,  258.  In  the 
autumn  of  this  year,  an  interesting  state  of  feeling 
was  manifested;  and  in  January  following,  (1843,) 
a  most  gracious  revival  succeeded  ;  during  which, 
the  faithful  and  valuable  services  of  Eld.  I.  R.  Stew- 
ard were  obtained  for  seven  weeks,  to  aid  the  Pastor 
in  the  abundance  of  his  labors.  As  the  result  of 
this  revival,  many  were  added  to  the  Church ;  dur- 
ing the  year,  93  by  baptism,  and  54  by  letter. 

In  the  following  September,  a  series  of  meetings 
were  held,  during  which  the  assistance  of  Eld.  Jacob 
Knapp  was  obtained  for  about  five  weeks,  day  and 
evening.  Here,  as  before,  the  arm  of  the  Lord  was 
revealed  in  quickening  saints,  and  converting  sin- 
ners ;  so  that  in  this  year  were  added  53  by  baptism, 
and  52  by  letter.    Total,  433. 

The  Spring  of  1844  found  the  Church  in  a  low 
state  of  spirituality,  yet  with  a  good  congregation, 


81 

and  the  same  harmony  as  had  ever  marked  their  his- 
tory. In  this  associational  year,  but  four  were  added 
by  baptism,  and  26  by  letter. 

In  the  Spring  of  1845,  at  the  request  of  members 
living  at  Greenville,  about  sixty  were  dismissed,  to 
constitute  a  Church  in  that  place  ;  this  was  regarded 
as  a  severe  loss  from  the  Central  Church.  But  in 
the  Autumn  and  Winter  following,  during  a  power- 
ful revival  enjoyed  by  the  First  Church,  this  also  re- 
ceived some  of  the  sacred  influences ;  and  at  the 
next  Association  reported  for  the  year,  40  added  by 
baptism,  and  18  by  letter. 

At  this  time,  their  Pastor  began  to  feel  that  it 
might  be  his  duty  to  seek  another  field  of  labor ;  and 
on  the  last  Sabbath  in  March,  1846,  he  closed  his 
labors,  the  Church  having  with  great  reluctance  ac- 
cepted his  resignation,  after  having  been  so  closely 
identified  with  its  history  and  prosperity,  from  its  be- 
ginning until  then.  For  several  months  succeeding, 
the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  PJlders  Brown,  Field,  and 
others,  until  a  call,  extended  to  Eld.  E.  T.  Hiscox, 
at  that  time  Pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in 
Westerly,  R.  I.,  was  accepted,  and  at  the  Church's 
earnest  request,  he  became  their  Pastor.  But  as  his 
engagements  forbade  his  taking  charge  of  the  Church 
until  the  following  Spring,  Eld.  Lawson  Muzzy  was 
engaged  to  supply  the  pulpit  till  that  time ;  which 
he  did,  greatly  to  the  profit  and  satisfaction  of  the 
congregation. 

The  1st  of  April,  1847,  the  newly  chosen  Pastor 
commenced  his  labors   with  the  Church,  which  was 


82 

found  to  have  suffered  much  during  the  past  year,  as 
a  matter  of  necessity.  Just  at  this  time,  also,  the 
removal  of  a  large  business  firm,  with  which  were 
,  connected  a  large  number  of  the  Church  and  con- 
gregation, added  to  the  discouragement.  During 
the  ensuing  year  also,  on  account  of  a  general  de- 
pression in  business,  removals  were  frequent,  so  as 
at  times,  greatly  to  dishearten  the  friends  of  Zion. 
But  the  most  serious  difficulty  arose  from  the  pecu- 
niary embarrsssment  of  the  debt  contracted  by  the 
building  of  the  house,  and  which  at  this  time  amount- 
ed to  $5500,  and  so  far  from  diminishing,  had,  for 
some  time,  been  increasing. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Society,  held  in  No- 
vember, 1847,  the  financial  condition  of  the  Church 
became  known;  when  the  Pastor  and  brethren  felt 
that  the  prosperity,  if  not  the  very  existence  of  the 
Church,  depended  on  cancelling  the  debts,  and  urged 
a  vigorous  and  united  effort  to  pay  the  whole  imme- 
diately. Yet  it  was  regarded  as  little  short  of  im- 
possible, with  the  small  pecuniary  ability  of  the 
Church,  to  pay  the  whole  sum  in  one  year,  as  was 
proposed.  Nevertheless,  all  seemed  to  unite  as  with 
one  heart  in  the  attempt,  and  in  something  more 
than  a  year,  over  $4000  of  it  was  paid ;  to  which 
may  be  added,  $3000  more,  during  that  and  the  fol- 
lowing years,  (1848  and  1849,)  raised  to  meet  current 
expenses,  for  benevolent  objects,  and  towards  a  new 
organ,  purchased  in  the  Spring  of  1849. 

During  these  two  years,  the  financial  difficulties  of 
the  Church  engrossed  most  of  its  energies,  and  but 


83 

very  few  additions  were  made  by  baptism.  Fre- 
quent meetings  were  held  for  two  weeks,  in  the 
winter  of  1847  and  1848,  and  many  were  received. 
Again,  in  the  winter  of  1848  and  1849,  meetings  for 
Conference  and  Prayer  were  had  nearly  every  eve- 
ning for  ten  weeks,  with  very  happy  results  ;  and  yet 
no  conversions  were  known  to  have  occurred. 

But  in  November,  1849,  more  encouraging  indica- 
tions were  witnessed,  and  a  precious  revival  follow- 
ed. Sinners  began  to  seek  the  way  of  life,  and 
converts  soon  rejoiced  in  pardon.  For  six  months, 
meetings  were  held  nearly  every  evening;  and  for 
about  five  weeks,  every  morning  and  evening.  The 
Pastor  was  aided  for  three  weeks  of  the  time,  by 
Eld.  David  Bernard.  As  the  immediate  fruits  of 
this  revival,  35  were  added  by  baptism ;  and  during 
the  year,  13  by  letter.  Great  harmony  pervaded  the 
Church,  and  to  a  good  degree,  the  members  united 
in  the  work  of  the  Lord  ;  many  backsliders  were  re- 
claimed, and  a  most  salutary  influence  remained 
behind,  when  the  immediate  effects  of  the  interest 
had  passed  away. 

The  prospects  of  the  Church  are  somewhat  bright- 
ening; the  burden  of  the  debt  is,  to  a  considerable 
extent,  removed;  the  congregation  has  increased; 
the  additions  have  added  somewhat  to  the  strength 
of  the  Church,  while  the  undisturbed  harmony  of  the 
entire  body,  with  the  increased  activity  and  interest 
exhibited  by  its  members,  promise  greatly  for  the 
future  welfare  of  thi9  branch  of  Zioa, 


84 

This  Church  has,  from  the  first,  been  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  Sabbath  School  cause ;  in  giving  the 
Bible  to  the  nations  of  the  earth,  and  in  every  object 
calculated  to  secure  the  evangelization  of  the  world, 
or  the  welfare  of  humanity  ;  while  they  fully  believe 
that  Christians  can  do  more  for  the  salvation  of 
souls,  and  the  welfare  of  the  world,  by  faithful  and 
devout  labors  in,  and  in  connection  with  the  Church, 
as  the  "ground  and  pillar  of  the  truth,"  than  in 
any  other  way. 

Since  its  organization,  there  have  been  received 
into  its  fellowship,  by  baptism,  352;  by  letter,  365. 
Total,  717.    Present  number,  403. 


1st  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  NEW  LONDON. 

The  Baptists  of  New  London,  for  some  years 
were  members  of  the  1st  Baptist  Church  in  Water- 
ford,  and  nothing  like  an  organization  is  known  to 
have  existed  until  after  the  great  revival  in  1794, 
when  the  Waterford  Church  was  districted,  New 
London  proper  constituting  one  district,  and  the  Har- 
bour's-Mouth  another. 

Baptist  meetings  were  frequently  held  in  the  Court 
House,  and  other  places,  as  preachers  could  be  ob- 
tained, until  1803,  when  the  members  residing  in 
New  London,  petitioned  the  Waterford  Church,  for 
the  privilege  of  employing  a  minister  among  them- 
selves, which  resulted  in  an  arrangement  for  Elder 
West,  who  was  then  laboring  with  the  Church,  to 
preach  a  certain  portion  of  the  time  in  the  City. 

The  next  January,  1804,  a  petition,  originating  as 
it  stated,  in  a  desire  to  promote  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom,  and  in  the  belief  that  that  desire  was  of 
God,  was  presented  to  the  Waterford  Church,  asking 
dismission  from  them,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a 
permanent  standard  in  New  London.  To  this  peti- 
tion was  appended  the  names  of  Jonathan  Sizer, 
John  Lewis,  Noah  Mason,  Ira  Chapman,  Isaac  Clark, 
Henry  Harris,  Nathaniel  Harris,  Joseph  Anable^ 
John  Harris,  and  Samuel  Coit.  Of  this  number 
8 


86 

Bro.  John  Harris  is  the  only  survivor.  Their  peti- 
tion Avas  granted;  and  on  the  11th  of  February  fol- 
lowing, they  were  recognized  by  a  Council,  called  for 
the  purpose,  as  a  Church  of  Christ,  in  gospel  order. 

Eld.  Samuel  West  was  one  of  the  constituent 
members,  and  was  called  to  the  Pastoral  office  about 
the  time  of  the  recognition,  and  served  the  Church 
with  much  acceptance  for  ten  years.  In  October,  of 
the  same  year,  the  Church  united  with  the  Stonington 
Association,  of  which  it  continued  a  member,  until 
the  formation  of  the  New  London  Association,  in 
1817.  with  which  it  has  since  been  connected. 

The  next  year  efforts  were  put  forth  to  procure  a 
house  of  worship.  Some  difficulty  was  experienced 
in  obtaining  a  building  lot,  on  account  of  the  preju- 
dice that  existed  against  this  sect  at  that  day.  By  a 
little  contrivance,  however,  they  obtained  possession 
of  a  ledge  of  rocks,  on  which  they  erected  a  house, 
for  the  worship  of  the  "  one  living  and  true  God," 
«  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost." 

Having  exhausted  their  means  in  purchasing  the 
lot,  and  erecting,  and  covering  the  frame,  they  com- 
menced worshipping  in  it,  in  an  entirely  unfinished 
state,  and  continued  so  to  do  for  some  ten  years. 
They  had  not  learned  the  system  of  plunging  hope- 
lessly into  debt,  and  then  appealing  to  other  Churches 
to  save  them  from  ruin.  In  1807,  however,  they 
petitioned  the  Legislature,  for  the  grant  of  a  lottery, 
to  enable  them  to  finish  their  house.  It  is  supposed 
that  the  request  was  not  granted,  as  the  house  re- 
mained unfinished  for  years  afterwards. 


87 

Nothing  of  special  interest  appears  on  the  records 
during  the  remainder  of  Eld.  West's  Pastorate.  The 
Chinch  was  small  and  poor,  and  struggling  against 
adverse  influences  ;  but  still  they  held  on  their  way. 
He  closed  his  labors  with  them  in  the  Spring  of 
1814  ;  and  for  two  or  three  years  they  appear  to 
have  been  without  an  under  shepherd,  and  made  lit- 
tle or  no  progress. 

Some  time  in  1816,  Nehf.m[ah  Dodge  commenc- 
ed laboring  among  them,  and  continued  over  five 
years.  In  1817,  a  revival  was  enjoyed,  which  brought 
quite  a  number  into  the  Church,  and  probably  had  to 
do  very  materially  with  finishing  the  Meeting  House, 
which  was  done  about  this  time.  Eld.  Dodge  sub- 
sequently embraced  the  doctrine  of  Universal  Restor- 
ation, and  was  dismissed  from  the  Pastorate ;  and 
soon  after,  excluded  from  the  Church. 

A  call  was  then  extended  to  Ebenezer  Loomis,  a 
licentiate,  who  accepted,  and  entered  on  his  labors, 
April  1,  1822.  The  January  following,  he  was  call- 
ed to  ordination  ;  and  on  the  5th  of  February,  was 
solemnly  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  Minis- 
try. He  continued  with  them  four  years,  laboring 
with  much  acceptance  to  the  Church,  and  not  with- 
out fruit  in  the  ingathering  of  souls.  He  left  entirely 
of  his  own  accord,  under  a  conviction  of  duty,  to  the 
then  opening  West.  During  the  next  year,  they 
were  supplied  by  S.  W.  Beck  with,  and  others. 

In  the  Spring  of  1827,  Henry  Wightman  became 
Pastor,  and  continued  one  year.  He  proved  to  be  a 
troublesome  man,  and  occasioned   mur-h  inconven- 


88 


ience  and  labor  to  the  Church.  fclld.  West,  their 
first  Pastor,  then  returned,  and  served  them  one 
year.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  Spring  of  1829,  by 
Daniel  Wildman,  who  remained  three  years.  His 
ministry  was  very  acceptable  to  the  people ;  and  dur- 
ing the  last  year,  an  extensive  revival  was  enjoyed, 
in  which  he  was  aided  by  Eld.  Tilden,  who,  the  fol- 
lowing Spring,  became  Pastor  of  the  Church.  His 
Pastorate  continued  but  one  year ;  after  which,  he 
set  up  a  separate  meeting,  but  accomplished  little 
more  than  to  occasion  some  trouble  to  the  Church. 
The  following  year,  1833,  after  several  ineffectual 
attempts  to  obtain  a  Pastor,  Eld.  Danied  Wildman 
was  engaged  as  a  permanent  supply. 

In  the  Spring  of  1834,  Alvin  Acklet  became 
Pastor,  and  served  them  with  great  acceptance  for 
three  years.  Under  his  ministry,  the  Church  was  built 
up,  edified,  and  considerably  increased ;  and  it  was 
with  much  reluctance  that  his  resignation  was  ac- 
cepted, when  he  left.  He  was  succeeded  by  Na- 
than Wildman,  who  remained  but  one  year. 

The  next  Pastor  was  C.  C.  Williams,  who  com- 
menced his  Pastorate  in  July,  1838,  and  continued 
until  April,  1840.  In  connection  with  his  labors,  a 
large  number  were  added  to  the  Church  ;  the  con- 
gregation was  increased,  and  the  Meeting  House 
enlarged.  But  the  latter  end  was  by  no  means  as 
favorable  as  the  beginning.  The  Church  became 
divided  with  reference  to  his  continuing  as  Pastor, 
and  ultimately  a  number  of  the  members,  with  him, 
set  up  a  separate  meeting;  which  finally  resulted, 


S9 

after  a  protracted  scene  of  trial,  in  the  exclusion  of 
Eld.  Williams,  and  quite  a  number  of  others,  and  in 
the  formation  of  the  2d  Baptist  Church  in  the  City, 
under  very  unhappy  circumstances.  Subsequently, 
however,  in  connection  with  the  labors  of  father 
Peck,  "  the  peace  maker,"  the  difficulties  were  re- 
moved, the  excluded  members  restored,  and  mutual 
fellowship  established  between  the  two  Churches, 
which  has  continued  unbroken  unto  this  day. 

Henry  R.  K.napp  took  the  Pastoral  charge  of  the 
Church  on  the  1st  of  April,  1840,  and  continued 
three  years.  The  first  part  of  his  ministry  was  ren- 
dered somewhat  unpleasant,  on  account  of  the  diffi- 
culties then  existing  ;  but  nevertheless,  some  progress 
was  made,  and  "precious  stones"  were  added  to  the 
building,  even  in  "  troublous  times."  During  the 
last  half  of  his  Pastorate,  very  large  accessions  were 
made  to  the  Church.  A  protracted  meeting  was 
held  during  the  winter  of  1841—2,  in  which  the 
Pastor  was  aided  by  Eld.  B.  Cook,  that  proved  a  rich 
blessing  to  the  Church,  and  resulted  in  the  hopeful 
conversion  of  many  that  had  long  "  rejected  the 
counsel  of  God,  against  themselves."  The  revival 
influence  seemed  to  continue  with  the  Church  in  a 
very  considerable  degree,  during  the  following  Sum- 
mer, and  the  next  Fall  and  Winter,  in  connection 
with  another  protracted  meeting,  in  which  the  labors 
of  Eld.  J.  S.  Swan  were  connected  with  the  Pastor, 
still  larger  numbers  professed  obedience  to  the  faith. 
These  were  "years  of  the  right-hand  of  the  Most 
High,"  and  will  long  be  remembered  bv  those  who 
8* 


90 

felt,  and  saw  the  power  of  God,  as  then  displayed, 
in  its  "  effectual  working"  upon  the  hearts,  and  con- 
sciences of  men. 

In  the  Spring  of  1843,  Eld.  Knapp  resigned  his 
Pastoral  charge  ;  on  the  acceptance  of  which,  an 
expression  of  the  gratitude  of  the  Church  for  his 
faithful  labors,  and  a  pledge  of  their  prayers  for  his 
future  usefulness  and  prosperity,  was  noted,  and  en- 
tered on  the  record. 

Eld.  Swan  assumed  the  Pastoral  relation  on  the 
1st  of  April,  1843,  and  sustained  it  nearly  six  years. 
During  the  first  year  of  his  Pastorate,  another  pro- 
tracted meeting  was  held  ;  the  effects  of  which,  they 
represent  in  their  letter  to  the  Association  as  those 
of  "  a  refreshing  shower,"  as  compared  with  "  the 
great  rain  of  God's  strength,"  enjoyed  during  the 
Winter  previous.  During  this  year,  upwards  of 
twenty  members  were  dismissed  to  a  new  interest, 
on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  known  as  Groton 
Bank  Church.  Nothing  of  very  special  interest  oc- 
curred during  the  remainder  of  his  Pastorate,  although 
some  were  added  to  the  Church  by  baptism  each 
year.  He  resigned  in  the  Fall  of  1848  :  and  during 
the  Winter  following,  the  Church  was  supplied  by 
Eld.  Alfred  Gates. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  in  January,  1849,  a  vote 
was  passed  authorizing  any  number  of  brethren  and 
sisters  to  take  letters,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a 
new  Church,  of  the  same  faith  and  order;  and  sub- 
sequently a  request,  as  above,  was  presented,  con- 
taining 186  names,  which  request  was  accordingly 


91 

granted,  and  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  Hunt- 
ington Street  Baptist  Church. 

On  the  1st  of  April,  1847,  Charles  Willett  be- 
came Pastor  of  the  Church,  and  remains  in  that 
relation  at  the  date  of  this,  September,  1650.  Such 
is  a  meagre  outline  of  the  History  of  the  First  Bap- 
tist Church  in  New  London  ;  a  Church  that,  from  a 
very  small  beginning,  has  been  led  on,  and  increas- 
ed, until  it  has  been  enabled  to  occupy  a  somewhat 
important  position  among  the  Evangelical  Churches 
of  the  City,  and  with  the  two  branches  that  have 
gone  out  from  it,  altogether  number,  at  the  present 
time,  over  eleven  hundred  members. 

During  its  forty-six  years  History,  over  eight  hun- 
dred have  been  baptized  into  its  fellowship ;  and  as 
nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  in  the  order  of  the  fol- 
lowing table,  which  gives  the  date  of  the  commence- 
ment, and  the  duration  of  the  several  Pastorates, 
with  the  baptisms  connected  therewith: 

Samuel  West,  180-4 10  years,  49  baptized. 

Nehemiah  Dodse,  1817,     5       "       57  " 

Ebenezer  Looniis,  1822,    4      "       23  " 

Henry  Wightman.  1827,  1  vear,      7  <: 

Samuel  West,  1828 1      «          8  " 

Daniel  Wildman,  1829,    3  years,  37  « 

Chester  Tilden,  1832,    1  year,     10  " 

Alvia  Ackley,  1834 3  vears,  41  " 

JNathan   Wildman,  1837,    1  year,      2  " 

C.  C.  Williams.  1838,  2  years,  82 

H.  R.  Knapp,  1840,    3      "      392  « 

J.  S.  Swan.  1813 5k   "        75  " 

Charles  Willett,  1849,   l|    «       40  « 

Present  Deacons,  VV.  A.  Weaver,  Clark  Daniels, 
Daniel  Latham.    Present  number  of  members,  405. 


2d  BAPTIST  rill  ki  11,  NEW  LONDON. 


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who  !••  £«-neral 

f  au- 
otber  beeae,  and  the  eeub  if  another  Bap- 

About  t 

i 

•  II 
Wiiii  I'ostor  of  the  1st  Church.     Im- 

■ 
lot,  tod  erect  if 

iation  of  a  se<  I 

Church.     A  contract  for  tins  object  wag  signed  Jane 

- 10,  by  Jonathan  Smith,  w      I 

":.  Jr.,  Goor-'    WW  1       y,  and 

Charles  and  Joseph  Bishop.        1  -•■  was  com- 

pleted in   December  of  t  The  early 

struggles  to  obtain  letters  for  the  purpose  of  forming 


93 

the  Church,  wo  would  willingly  pa«3  over,  but  a 
brief  out-line  is  necessary  to  show  the  origin  of  the 
Church. 

After  all  attempts  had  fkiled  of  obtaining  l< 
of  dismission  from   the  let  Church,  for  the   pi: 
of  forming  ■  second  interest,  and  Mr.  Williams  and 
iix  of  th"  n  iee  had  been  exclud- 

ed for  the  part  they  had  taken  in  th<  tment 

parate  meeting;  and  when  a  petition  of  rm< 
n  mi  mm  i.  ling,  in  th<    I '   it  <  Ihurch, 

for  the  same  object  had  .  the  friends 

ted  called  i  Council  to  in?estigate  the  whole 

.  which,  after  a    prayerful    and    laborious   809- 

■id  examination,  advised  the  'ion  of 

I    larch.      The  thirty  m<'Ui!> 

Church,  constituted   themselves   into  th< 

Baptist  ( '  f  New  L        n,"  arid  agreeably  to 

advice  of  I  Council,  immediati 

five  brethren  ai  ■  having  letters  from  the 

First  Baptist  Church  in  Waterford,  and  brother  C.  C- 

Williams,  and  the  six  brethren  who  had  ba 

eluded   with  him,   previously,  from  |  I  nurch. 

The  Council  still  remaining  in  session,  the  Church 
was  then  publicly  recognised,  !»•  •  ber  31,  1840. 
C.  C.  Williams  became   the  first    P  \    pro- 

tracted scene  of  trial  followed  the  or 
The  difficulties  with  the  First  Church,  growing  in 
part,  out  of  the  reception  of  excluded  members  of 
that  body,  which  unfortunately  continued  for  a  con- 
siderable period,  were  snbsequently  removed  and 
adjusted  during  the  Pastorship  of  Lemuel  Covell, 


M 

Uirough   tlio   voluntary,  kind   and  at:  labors 

of  Elders   Boi  li  !  J  n   Pi    k. 

Of  th-  Y.tL      H  irmony  WSl  rati 

ii  has  continued  unbroken  to  this  .; 

I  '.  <  '.  W  tbt  Church, 

I- II.  as 

y,  till  a  Pi 
I 
arc  still  gratefully  cherished  by  the  Church, 
ary  .">,  18  !'.'.    the   I  "Icr.-h    ftVI     Ll  I 

t  time 
•nt  Lilly  || 

Bi  ■  C 
of  the  cull,  F«  H    IMS 

P   stornl   duties   in  April  o! 

The  Bret  baptism  t<>*>k  pi        I  »■    •  19,   1841, 

when  thirteen  ■  i  .  being  immereed  I 

Covcl!,)  as  a  token  of  divine  favor.      A 
work  of  grace  continued  through  the  Winter,  during 
which   time     I  :n.       Quite 

a  number  of  other  additi  i'so  made  by  let- 

Dui    '  _'    the   \\ •;:  • 
122  were   added   by  baptism,  th 
continuing  through  the  entire  Winter  ami  Spring. 

Bro.  Covi  Deoemi 

1843,  and  removed  I  rk,  in  January.  1844. 

The  Church  reluctantly  accepted  his  rasignsfJoil,  and 
were  much  depressed  at  parting  with  their  spiritual 
leader,  through  whose  agency  the  Church  had  nip- 
idly   increased    and    prospered       John    I!i  \in 

ID  .ell  in  the  Pastorate,  and  continued 


95 

till  the  Spring  of  ISAo,  having-  resigned,  January  G, 
of  the  same  year.  March  10,  1845,  the  Church  in- 
vited L.  G.  Leonard,  of  Thompson,  to  become  their 
Pastor ;  who  accepted,  and  commenced  his  Pastoral 
labors  the  1st  of  May,  of  the  same  year.  Bro.  Leon- 
ard continued  his  useful  labors  with  the  Church  till 
November,  1-lS  when  he  resigned,  and  removed  to 
Zanesville,  Ohio.  The  Church  still  cherish  bil 
memory  with  affectionate  inter* 

Edwin  R.  Wakrkn,  of  Albany,  N.  V.,  succeeded 
Bro.  Leonard  in  the  Pastorate.  Bro.  Warren,  being 
providentially  in  the  City  the  week  after  Bro.  Leonard 
left,  was  invited  to  supply  the  pulpit,  he  having  jost 
previously  resigned  the  charge  of  the  State  Street 
Baptist  Church,  Albany.  fie  accepted  the  invita- 
tion, and  subsequently,  the  call  of  the  Church,  to 
become  their  Pastor,  and  entered  upon  its  duties  the 
1st  of  January,  1849.  Daring  the  Winter  and  Spring 
of  1849,  1 09  were  added  by  baptism.  A  special  re- 
vival was  enjoyed,  refreshing  and  precious. 

During  the  past  year,  the  Church  have  excavated 
about  two  thousand  loads  of  solid  rock  from  in  front 
and  underneath  their  house  of  worship,  and  con- 
structed, at  a  considerable  out-lay  of  expense,  a 
commodious  and  beautiful  Lecture  Room,  furnishing 
seats  for  an  assembly  of  360  persons.  Their  Church 
property,  though  encumbered  by  debt,  is  centrally 
located  and  valuable ;  the  Street  where  it  stands 
having  been  improved  the  past  year.  The  Church  is 
a  warm  patron  of  the  general  cause  of  benevolence, 
and  have  contributed,  notwithstanding  their  home 


N 

chump,  to  many  foreign  object*  Traycr  Meotinpi 
are   held  by  the  Church  on  \V 
evonn                      :  •    W 

<;<\-s  of  t:  UDOOf  M*» 

'    ,in  h,   ■  lib   interest,  and 

BiM  I  : 

red  by  baptism,  rod  - 

rod  but   i  an  IWi 

I  !  revival  with 

winch  the  Church  h  i   «iur- 

vYioteri  of  1848,  1843,  tad  1844     D 

•  »   tin: 

Church;  and duriof  the  I    t,  108.     Dvriag  I 

added  Sea 

time  t  i  the  Church  enjoyed  some  pn 

mem- 

i        B.  ti      site, 

[].  U.  \Varrf>.  Pastor.     David  B  .rk. 


HUNTINGTON    STREET 

BAPTIST  CHURCH,  NEW  LONDON. 


At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  First  Baptist  Church 
in  the  City  of  New  London,  in  January,  1849,  i 
resolution  n  I  to  give  letters  to  those   irho 

desired  to  form  another  Baptist  Church  in  the  City, 
to  be  in  fellowship  with  the    First  Church. 

14,  of  the  same  year,  185  brethren  and  sisters  of  the 

said  First  Church,  met,  and  after  prayer  and  solemn 
deliberation,  constituted  tl  into  a  Church; 

and  having  previously  purchased  the  Universalis! 
Meeting  House,  in  Huntington  Street,  agreed  to  be 
known  as  "The  Huntington  Street  Baptist  Church," 
adopting  Articles  of  Faith  and  Covenant.  Elder 
Jabez  Swan  was  elected  Pastor,  and  William  P. 
Benjamin  and  Isaac  Harris  Deacons. 

March  '-28,  a  large  Council  from  twelve  Churches 
convened  in  the  First  Baptist  Church,  and  after  ex- 
amination of  their  Articles  of  Faith  and  Covenant, 
unanimously  agreed  to  recognize  the  Church. 

March  29,  1640,  the  house,  recently  bought  of  the 
Universalist  Society,  was  dedicated  to  the  worship 
and  praise  of  Almighty  God,  and  the  Church  was 
publicly  recognized,  and  the  Deacons  elect  were 
ordained  with  appropriate  services.  Sermons  were 
9 


i,  appropn- 
the  dedication  of  the  II  use,  and  bj  Bid.  B.  Cook, 

on  th  i         .     i        r.  <;. 

\\      •  ■  1: 

.   l'.>r   more   thin 
ition,  which  w< 
ed  bj  the  i 

At  the  time  of  the 
was  in  progreea  in  I      I        which  atill 
with  increaaing  power,  for  leveraJ  a 

Pre!  torn  to  tfa 
aame  d  bj  baptiem,  and  ! 

letter.     The  Church  united  with  I      ( 
Baptial  e  New 

London  Baptist  As.-  ptemhet  of    the 

aame  j 

During  tlic  season  of  1850,  the  Churc 
the  absence  of  their  beloved  P  bj  painibJ, 

area  bud  i 

for  about  tour  months.     Hut  doling  this  painful  trial, 
thej  were  supplied   by  the   voluntary   labors  of  the 
neighboring  Paatore;  and  God  m< 
to  them  his  servant,  in  health  and  strength,  who  now 
goes  in  and  out  before  them. 

Their  present  number  is  311.      Eld.  J.  S.  BwAJL 
Pastor  ;  C.  C.  Comstock,  Clerk. 


BAPTI8T  CHURCH,  ESSEX. 

This  Church,  like  many  others  in  the  State,  arose 
out  of  a  Pedo-baptist  community,  having  its  origin 
mainly  in  i  from  the  Second  Congregational 

Society  in  Saybrook,  BeveraJ   of  w  mbera, 

about  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  became 
dissatisfied  with  infant  sprinkling  as  a  substitute  for 
Christian   bap! ism.       .Mr.    :  .    is  believed  to 

have  been  the  first  of  those  who  came  out  decidedly 

a  Uaptist.  He  was  baptized  by  Eld.  John  Williams, 
in  the  City  of  New  Vbrk,  in  the  year  1805. 

Som«'   til  tins,   however,  Mr.  .Tared 

Hayden,  a  j  chant  of  the  p  called 

to  witness  the  peaceful  and  happy  death  of  his  only 
:  an  event  which,  through  the  divine  blessing, 
resulted  in  his  conversion.  Shortly  after,  in  company 
with  a  friend  from  New  York,  he  visited  Chester, 
and  heard  a  discourse  from  Eld.  Dickinson,  Pastor 
of  the  Baptist  Church  in  East  Haddam.  Being 
quite  interested  in  the  sermon,  they  invited  Eld.  D. 
to  visit  Essex  and  preach,  which  invitation  he  after- 
wards complied  with;  and  as  others  became  interest- 
ed, he  came  again.  On  his  third  visit,  several  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Church,  with  some  others 
who  had  recently  obtained  hope,  making  in  all  eight 
persons,  were  buried  with  Christ  in  baptism.     Seven 


LOO 

more  were  baptized  on  his  fourth  visit  In  the  face 
of  much  scoffing,  lad  ridicule,  rvinl  misrepresenta- 
tion, brother  Dukinson  continued  to  preach  and  bap- 
tize, until  in  1800,  quire  a  revival  was  enjoyed  under 
his  labors,  and  the  number  baptised  had  increased  to 
fifty-tWO.      TltOM  bad  united  from  time  to  time  with 

Baptist  Church  in  East  rJaddam,  and  were  ac- 
customed to  meet  as  a  branch  of  that  Church.* 

In  1811,  these  brethren  and  sisters,  with  others 
from  the  vicinity,  numbering  in  all,  sixty-four,  were 
constituted  the  Second  Baptist  Church  in  Saybrook, 
which  title  was  afterwards  changed  to  the  First 
Baptist  Church  in  Essex,  r  ••  i  Church  a  col- 
ony has  since  gone  out  to  form  the  Baptist  Church 
in  Clinton  ;  and  in  1830,  eighteen  members  were 
dismissed  to  unite  with  others  in  constituting  the 
Baptist  Church  in  Deep  River. 

From  the  time  the  Church  was  constituted,  June 
18,  181 1,  until  August  12,  1812,  its  ministry  was  of 
occasional  supplies.  At  that  time,  Oliver  Wilson 
was  ordained,  and  chosen  Pastor  of  the  Church. 
He  continued  Pastor  two  years  and  nearly  three 
months.  During  his  ministry,  three  were  added  to 
the  Church,  by  baptism,  and  three  by  letter,  lie 
resigned  October  23,  1814. 

*Thc  first  Baptist  living  in  the  Borough  of  Essex,  of 
which  we  have  any  account,  was  Mrs.  Jerusha  Havden. 
She  was  baptized  in  East  Lyme,  by  Rid.  Jason  Lee,  April 
4,  1S02,  in  which  Church  she  still  holds  her  membership, 
though  living  in  Essex. 


101 

From  the  time  of  his  resignation,  the  Church  con- 
tinued with  occasional  supplies,  until  April  24, 1818, 
when  Eld.  Asa  Wilcox  was  chosen  Pastor,  and  en- 
tered upon  the  duties  of  his  office.  During  his  min- 
istrations to  the  Church,  which  continued  ten  years, 
there  were  added  to  its  members  eighty-two  by  bap- 
tism, and  seven  by  letter.  He  resigned  his  charge 
as  Pastor,  April,  1828. 

The  Church  remained  without  a  Pastor  from  April 
until  the  21st  of  August,  1828,  when  Eld.  Pierfoht 
Brocket  accepted  a  call  of  the  Church,  to  become 
their  Pastor,  and  commenced  his  labors  with  them. 
He  continued  Pastor  of  the  Church  seven  years,  and 
closed  his  labors  August  20,  1835.  During  his  min- 
istry, ninety-four  were  added  to  the  Church  by  bap- 
tism, and  fifteen  by  letter. 

From  August,  1835,  to  April  1,  183G,  the  Church 
was  again  without  a  Pastor.  At  that  time,  Elder 
Henry  R.  Knafp  accepted  a  call  from  the  Cliuroh, 
to  become  their  Pastor,  and  commenced  his  labors 
with  them.  lie  continued  Pastor  of  the  Church 
four  years,  when  he  resigned,  April  1,  1840.  While 
he  was  Pastor,  there  were  nine  received  by  baptism, 
six  by  letter,  and  two  by  experience. 

Eld.  William  Geo.  Miller  received  a  call  from 
the  Church,  to  become  its  Pastor,  and  entered  upon 
its  duties  April  1,  1840.  After  the  faithful  labors  of 
live  years,  he  was  removed  by  the  hand  of  death, 
April  13,  1845.  During  his  ministry,  there  were 
fifty-six  added  to  the  Church  by  baptism,  ten  by  let- 
ter, and  four  by  experience. 


109 

From  die   fottfa   of  Eld.   Millar,   until  August  of 

the  same  peer,  the  Church  wen*  without  I  Pastor. 
At  that  time,  Ddet  William  II.  Card  accepted 
a  call  from  the  Church,  and  entered  DpOB  his  la- 
bors with  it  on  the  third  I.  I  |  Ht,  104ft. 
He  continued  PeetOff  of  tlie  Church  one  year,  and 
then  closed  his  labors.  Daring  nil  ministry,  K 
were  added  to  the  Church  by  baptism,  and  eight  by 
letter. 

Kid.  HnJTBl  BboM&BI  labored  with  the  Church 
from  Beptemhei,  l'lti.  until  the  Bret  Sabbath  in 
March,  1847,  «rhen  KM.  W'm.  <..  II.",'.  uu>  received 
and  m  from  the  Chareh,  and  em 

upon  bit  Pastoral  labors  March.  [847.  He  <  ontinu- 
ed  with  the  Church  tl  tithe,  wh»'ii 

hie  labors  cloeed,  Beptemoet  i»;.  )-i!».     Dnrinf  Mi 

ministry.  MM  was   added   to  the  Church   by  baptism, 

and  fi?e  by  letter. 
In  1 1  .  of  the  same  jeer,  Elder  Maetm 

Eastwood,  having  received  a  call  from  the  Church, 
became  their  Pastor."  Daring  his  ministry,  sixty- 
one  have  been  added  by  baptism,  five  by  letter,  and 
two  by  experience. 

In  181G  and  1817,  the  Church  erected  a  very  com- 
modious brick  Meeting  House,  where  it  continued 
to  worship  until,  by  the  frequent  additions  to  their 
numbers,  the  place  became  too  straight  for  them  ; 
and  in  1844  and  1845,  they  erected  their  present 
house  of  worship. 

*  Since  resigned,  and  the  Church  are  now,  January,  1861 , 
destitute  of  a  Pastor. 


103 

The  following  brethren  are  Deacons  of  the  Church, 
viz  :  R.  Post,  B.  Tyler,  A.  H.  Hough,  and  A3a 
Parker ;  whose  duties  are  thus  defined  by  the  Church 
in  their  Articles.  They  are  so  clear,  and  appropri- 
ate, and  willial  so  Scriptural,  that  they  are  subjoined. 

ni  TIES   <>r  THE  DEACONS. 

I.     To  attend  to  the  serving  (.f  tables  ;  l  1.    As— 
the  Lord's  table ;  to  provide  the  bread  and  the  wine, 
and  the  furniture  needful  for  the  administration  of 
the  supper ;  and  when  the  elements  are  blessed,  and 
the  bread  broken,  and   wine   poured  out,  and  these 
given  into  their  hands  by  the  Pastor,  they  are  to  de- 
liver them  to  the  members  of  the  Church.      2.   The 
minister's  table  ;  to  take  care  that  a  proper  provision 
is  made  for  the  subsistence  of  himself  and  family. 
3.    The  poor's  toble  ;    it  was  an  apostolical  order 
given  to  the  Churches,  that  they  should  make  a  col- 
lection for  the  poor  saints,  on  the  first  day  of  the 
week,  to  which  every  one  was  to  give,  as  God  had 
prospered  him,  2  which  collections,  and  those  made  at 
the  Lord's  Supper,  are  to  be  received  by  the  Deacons, 
with  whatsoever  gifts  may  come  into  their  hands,  and 
be  distributed  to  the  necessities  of  the  saints, 
i  Acts  G:  2,  3.  — 2  1  Cor.  1G  :   1,2. 
IT.     To  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the  Church,  (in 
rotation  or  otherwise,  as  they  may  agree,)  when  the 
Pastor  is  absent ;  and  to  procure  the  aid  of  minister- 
ing brethren  in  preaching,  or  the  administration  of 
the  ordinances,  when  the  Church  may  be  destitute 
of  a  Pastor,  or  deprived  of  Ins  services. 
Eph.  4:  11.  12.    Rom.  12:  7,8. 


lnl 

III.  To  aid  the  Pastor,  as  :.  ->iblc,  or  as 
circumstances  may  require,  in  watching  over  the 
purity  of  the  Church,  in  keeping  op  |  ungs, 

and  in  aflbfti  tor  the  conversion  ef  RM 
—13. 

IV.  And,   moreover,   to   render  annually   to    the 

Church,  i  i'uil  and  detailed  report  of  all  receipt  and 
expenditure!  a  ithin  I 
Since  the  Church  n  ited,  it  b 

joyed  ninny  seasons  of  \al,in  which  the 

Lord  t  ;; drit,  and   i  nutn- 

:'  their  w%\  ..arka- 

hie  dieplaj  - 

ed   among  us;  and   the  truth,  Bl   it  is  in  Christ,  fins 

been  cordially  r<  tiling y  although 

nirch   hero,  as   is  the  case  in  numerous  other 

install*  thus    far    found,   that    the    I 

course  is  a  way  of  warfare. 

The  Bapl  '.  by  some, 

i ;  and  wherever  they  have 

held  forth  their  peeuli  atronw* 

ly  opposed  an  1  Though  tbta  Ins  been,  and 

is,  the  case  with  this  Church,  the  Lord  litis  given  her 
favor  in  the  eyes  of  a  Christian  community,  and  de- 
lighted to  increase  and  add  to  her  number. 

When  the  Church  was  constituted,  it  numbered 
63  ;  added  by  baptism,  339 :  by  letter,  54  ;  by  expe- 
rience, 8  ;  total,  462.  Dismissed  to  form  a  Church  in 
Clinton  and  Deep  River,  42  ;  to  other  Church 
died,  6S;  excluded,  34  ;  total,  190.  Eight  have  also 
been  restored  :  leaving  their  present  number.  273. 


MONTVILLE 

BAPTIST  CHURCH,  CHESTERFIELD. 


In  1842,  a  number  of  brethren  and  sisters,  residing 
in  this  vicinity,  in  consequence  of  being  situated  at 
an  inconvenient  distance  from  the  various  Churches 
to  which  they  belonged,  united  themselves  in  Church 
Covenant,  and  were  recognized  as  a  regular  Baptist 
Church,  by  a  Council  convened  for  that  purpose,  of 
which  Eld.  Asa  Wilcox  was  Moderator,  and  Eld. 
Ebenezer  Loomia,  Clerk,  oil  the  8th  of  November, 
of  the  same  year.  The  Church,  at  its  recognition, 
consisted  of  35  11  - ;      males. 

Eld.  Simeon  BlCEWiTB  was  the  first  who  labored 
with  this  Church  in  word  and  doctrine.  His  labors, 
however,  were  brief  with  them,  being  closed  the  1st 
of  April,  1825. 

Eld.  O.  Wilson  was  the  successor  in  the  Pastoral 
office.  During  the  greater  portion  of  the  six  years 
he  sustained  that  relation,  the  Church  were  much 
blessed.  Many  were  add«'d  by  baptism  and  by  let- 
ter. But,  unhappily  for  both  Pastor  and  Church, 
difficulties  occurred  between  them,  during  the  la6t 
year,  which  resulted  not  only  in  the  dismissal  of  the 
former  from  the  relation  of  Pastor,  but  also  in  ex- 


106 

elusion  from   the   Church,  and  deposition  from  the 
ministry. 

The  following  year  they  wen  irithout  i  aettled 

Bid  N.  B.  Sn.vii.KK  irn  then  obtained,  who 

continued  Paetor  two  yean.      During  the  labon  of 

Bro.  Shatter,  ■  precioui  revival  w  I,  and 

leveral  added  to  the  Church. 

The  enceelior  waa  Eld.  Jon  athah  .Mim-.k.    Dur- 
ing bin  ministry  of  two  yean,  they  enjoyed  the  bites 
ing  of  Ciod  without  any  eepecial  outpouring  of  Hit 

Spirit. 

They  were  then  aupplied  for  one  yt  tr  by  Bid. 

Simeon  Siiailkr.       During  which  time,  notln 
especial  interest  occurred. 

Bro,  W.m.  Smith,  b  licentiate,  was  then  engaged  \ 
ami  alter  laboring  awhile,  waa  ordained  as  Patter. 
During  his  labon  of  three  yean,  some  additions 
were  made  to  the  Church. 

Eld.  William  Dicaizva  followed,  and  preached 
one  year. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Eld.  James  Hepburn. — 
During  the  two  years  he  was  Paitor,  the  Church 
was  much  blessed. 

Eld.  Russell  then  supplied  them  one  year. 

The  two  years  following,  the  Church  had  no  set- 
tled Pastor;  but  they  enjoyed  preaching  most  of  the 
time. 

The  labors  of  Bro.  Jacob  Gardner  wore  then 
obtained  for  one  year.      During  which  time,  he  was 


107 

ordained  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  A  protracted 
meeting  was  held  during  the  Winter  of  that  year, 
in  which  Eld.  J.  S.  Swan  labored  with  great  suc- 
cess; and  about  seventy  souls  were  added  to  the 
Church. 

In  the  Spring  of  1817,  Bro.  Charles  II.  Gates 
came  among  them,  and  iraj  ordained  Pastor;  which 
relation  he  sustained  two  years  and  eight  months. 

They  were  then  without  a  Pastor  ;  and. most  of 
the  time  without  preaching,  until  October,  1850, 
when  the  services  of  Bro.  Edgar  Cady  were  secur- 
ed, who  is  their  present  Pastor.  In  him  they  are 
united  ;  and  their  watch-word  is,  onward. 

They  now  number  152. 


OLD  BAPTBT  CHI  RCH,  KONTVILIE. 


..  ....In   or<:<  •  •   the  Baptist 

ie  below  a 

I  list  (  hurcfi   in     I '  ;    Kldcr    R  | 
I' a  i  Mm  |  -  .  am. 

•  I 
tcrod  ::  riant  to  w ;i 

<  .  "  Uld  held    var 

nant  in  i  '.'".  1786 

ci]  ailed  from  the  neighboring  Cborchea,  ptibliclj 
oiled  them,  mi  I 

in  the  ordil  I  ',  and  strive  to  l 

tain  theii  covenant11 

1.      •  'VIDIIS      tO       ' 

hid  i"  d  by  Eld.  J  ibi  \  bfoati, 

■/ho  irai  ordained  in  1749       1 7SH  . 
in  M  •  •         •       1779,  who  I 

which  he  peeped  in  Fishkill,  V  Y*     He  then 
removed  to  Standisfii  .  where  he  remejoed 

till  his  death,  in  17'.'").       I'mLr    his   labors   in  Mont- 

ville,  a  Chare))  bed  been  gathered,  bat  declined,  and 

become  extinct  near  the  time  of  his  removal  to  Mas- 
sachusetts, or  subsequently  to  that  period.  Elders 
Christopher  V  Inter  and  Abel  Palmer,  his  son,  seems 
to  have  administered  the  ordinances  to  this  body  for 
a  time  of  their  first  biftOIY. 


L09 


If  ay  3,  1788,  the  Church  elected  Elder  Rti 
j'ai.mfu.  Ben.  for  their  Pastor.    Mr.  Palmer  had  prc- 

viously  been  ordained  at  North  Stonington.  In 
November,  1798,  the  Church  railed  a  Council,  to 
take   into  consideration   the  subject  of  M ordeiniog*1 

raising)  Bid.  Raoni  r  Piuni  as  their  P 

bet  35,  17'.*-.  the  Council  publicly  • 
him.     Bid.  Am  Wilcoa  preached  Lhesermoo;  Eld. 
D  .  w  ileoi  mve 

the  righl  hand  of  fellowship ;  and,  by  appointment 
of  the  Council,  Deacon  Oliver  I  td  the 

prayer  ition,  and  D  -1  H     ere,  the 

concluding  prayer.     Eld.  Palmer  continued  tl. 
tor  of  this  Church  till  trii  death,  Apr:  29,  1 903.    Hia 
ministry  was  attended  with  Lrood  suco 
hundreds  having  been  baptized  under  lus  labors.    Hit 
praise  still  linger!  in  the  Churches  of  the  vicinity, 
and  his  name  is  6poken  with  respect  and  affection  by 
the  older  members  of  our  present  '/ion.    During  his 
ministry,  nil       .I:   uben  Palmer,  Jun-,  was  convert- 
ed, and  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.      He 
labored  with  success  in  various  places  for  many  years. 
He  still  resides  in  Montville,  the  place  of  his  father's 
laborious  ministry,   in    the  f>7th  year  of   his 
Eld.  Reuben  Palmer,  Sen.  died,  after  a  short  con- 
finement, of  only  the  weeks,  of  dropsy. 

*  For  several  year?  Kid.  Reuben  Palmer,  Jun.  ministered 
to  this  Church,  and  was  a  member  of  it  at  the  time  of  its 
dissolution,  in  IMS.  He  has  never  connected  himself  with 
any  other  Church,  and  consequently  remains  at  present  out 
of  the  denominational  jurisdiction  Ha  v,gwe  upon  the 
10 


no 

After  Eld.  Ptll  "■•>,  tho  Cimrrh  ■ 

larly  pnpplied  bj  ftri  >tu  ministering  brethren,  bu* 

had  no  pern  •'!>•      I'nd'T  these  <  inum- 

8tanc<  lecline  til 

i  ben  Ibe  ( '••<  itch  ■  m  droj 

tint   1>  -  so  low  as  to  Bf 

Jking  in  Goepel  ord< 
on,  noweftr,  till  January  6,  1849 

ng,  the  Church  i 
genre  the  Clerk 

and  then  rated  the  I  4?ebV  and  that 

uth»-  bodjf  knot  I     irek  in 

MontviIIf  im  DO  in- 
stated on  the  record  t-. 

was  then  pmgioeeing  in  the  t«>»vn,  and  tint  a  new 
Church  would,  undoubtedly,  soon  be  organized. 

Rct'ormi  of  the  aj>  il,  ami   ahead    of  the   timet; 

but  he  exhibits   the   cl<  I    philanthropy  and 

■iaeert  piety]  ami  withal  retains  Ihfl  denominational  senti- 
ments of  hi«  early  profeooion,  thoujh  not  connected  with  • 
Baptut  Church 


UNION  BAP.  CHURCH,  MOHTVIILE. 

In  1841,  ■  number  of  brethren  and  sisters,  mem- 
bers of  Churchea  in  other  places,  and  of  a  Church 
about  one  mile  distant,  (which  had  long  since  ceased 
It  maintain  the  worship  of  God  as  a  Church,]  bar- 
ing a  desire  to  enjoy  the  ».  :i  of  the  Gospel, 
and  its  privileges,  as  far  as  possible,  concluded  to 

engage  some  minister  to  preach  to  them  in  a  con- 
nt  School  House,  one  half  of  tit  •  time  for  that 
year.  Bid.  Levi  Me  ecu  was  thus  engaged,  and 
commenced  his  labors  w  ith  them  about  the  first  of 
April.  Quite  a  congregation  iras  gathered;  and  in 
the  Fall  of  that  year,  a  revival  of  religion  was  en- 
joyed, and  COO!  I  multiplied.  The  work 
continued  through  the  Winter,  and  as  the  result,  34 
were  baptized.  In  December,  the  subject  of  con- 
stitutiiiLr  a  Church  of  Christ  was  considered,  and 
finally  decided  upon.  In  the  mean  time,  the  old 
Church  alluded  to,  above,  was  dissolved. 

January  6,  1^42,  a  Committee,  which  had  been 
appointed  to  prepare  Articles  of  Faith  and  Covenant 
reported,  and  their  report  was  accepted,  and  thirty- 
nine  then  entered  into  covenant,  to  maintain  those 
Articles,  as  the  rule  of  their  faith  and  practice,  as  a 
Church,  under  the  name  of  the  "Union  Baptist 
Church  of  Montville."      The  work  of  Grace  in  its 


1  Ii 

progrei  led  the  nn: 

ed  l>v  letter,  to  ii  irch  was  i 

I.   1  — 

• 

our  halt'  of  the  '  I  ' 

year,  the  Church  boil!  a  commodioti  f  wor- 

th.' irorel 
Octob--:  1,  I  - 1.'.      M 
tad  the  '  \  iaited  i- 

of  tlm  Holy  Spirit,  irhicfa  eontimu  .  miner 

af  l- 1  thirty-thn 

.    a  Lfn  i  n    • 
1  B  Id.     T  '  trial, 

ami  many  \\  \  in  tlir  mid-t  of 

trial,  f 

to    en  Ml    tin.* 

tu  tli r- 

ill  rai  ii  oio  R  lied  t<>  the 

N 
■ceofred  worth]  ring  tin- 

close  of  wlnrh,  1  da  release  from 

the  care  of  the  Church,  which  was  Ljrant. 
Meed  -  .  I  |  1848,  •      ;>roach  half 

of  the  time;  bat  his  beelth  lairing ,  he  was  able  to 
preach  to  us  but  I  part  of  the  time. 

In  1846,  .ices  of  Bro.  Nicho- 

las T.  Ali.en,  for  half  the  time,  who  was  ordani"d 
while  laboring  with  us.  This  year  proved  one  of 
comparative   peace   and    interoet       EM.     1 


M^- 


113 

succeeded  the  ensuing  year  by  Eld.  David  Avery, 
who  continued  one  year. 

In  1848,  the  Church  obtained  the  services  of  Eld. 
Alleu  Darrow,  whose  labors  were  profitable  to  the 
Church,  and  one  was  added  by  baptism.  lie  was 
succeeded  by  Bro.  Cortis  Keenf.y,  a  licentiate, 
who  labored  with  them  about  half  the  year.  His 
faithful  efibrtl  were  blessed,  and  eleven  were  added 
by  baptism.  The  remainder  of  the  year,  (1849,) 
Bro.  Gordon  and  others,  supplied  the  pulpit. 

In  1850,  Eld  I.  C.  Carpenter  was  engaged,  and 
commenced  his  labors  as  Pastor,  the  first  of  May. 
On  the  third  Sabbath  in  Jane,  two  were  buried  with 
Christ  in  baptism.  The  congregation  on  the  Sab- 
bath, is  considerably  larger  this  season  than  usual, 
and  good  attention  is  paid  to  the  word  preached, 
though  we  enjoy  no  special  revival. 


10' 


BAPTIST  CHURCH,  BOZRAH. 


Tins  Church  ■  1881,  and 

was  composed  of  thirty  u 

and  litter!    bad    pn  into  a 

branch    of  tin-   Church    in    MoDtTllIi 

visibility  when  that  Choi 

Al         1 1821,1       i: :    i    n  Patau 

I    his    Itbo 

tended  with  •  nfiniehed  Meeting  1 ' 

erected  about  1800,  a  pwith  pewa,and  Eld. 

P  ng  the 

revirii  In  1823,  a  revival  was 

>r  his  labors,  and  tl  •-,  on  being 

baptized,  were  united  to  the  branch  of  the   ' 

Ville  Church. 

After  thil  r  uval.  the  little  band  became  scattered 
in  the  absence  of  an  und«  r  shepherd,  and  soon  lost 
standing  by  the  extinction  of  the  .Montville  Church. 
Hut   in  1831,   th  .  ithered   again   under   the 

labors  of  Elders  Goddard   and   IIolgh,  isd 
recognized  by  a  Council  as  a  regular  Baptist  Church. 

From  this  period,  to  1834,  the  Church  had  no  stat- 
ed Pastor,  though  we  onjoycd  the  labors  of  several 
of  our  beloved  ministering  brethren  from  til 
time,  among  whom  was  Elds.  Goddard,  Hough,  Wm. 
Palmer,  and  A.  I).  Watrous. 


115 

In   1334,  Eld.  Levi  Meech  became  our  Pi 
and  continued  with  us  for  two  years.      Under  his  la- 
bors, the  Church  enjoyed  a    precious   revival,  and 
twenty  were  added  by  baptism. 

In  18.'}*),  Kid.  Jonathan  Miner  became  our  Pas- 
tor for  one  year.  This  year  the  Meeting  House  was 
altered  and  repaired,  and  rendered  more  convenient 
for  the  worship  of  God. 

In  1838,  Bid.  John  Payne  became onr Pastor, and 

continued  with  us  four  years.      Fifti  added 

by  baptism.      In    1843,   Bro,  C.    Li.i  hm.v.  m.i.   ITSS 
licensed  to   pro  •  rved  the  Church  one  half 

of  the  time,  dur.:  then  called 

by  the  Church  to  ordination  ;  which   took   place  the 

30th  of  November,  L842L      During  his  ministry,  the 
Church  has  enjoyed  much  prosperity.      Forty-one 
have  been  added  by  baptism,  and  I  I 
ed.      Bra  Leffingwell  was  succeeded  in  the  Pastor- 
ship of  this  Church  1  tst  year,  by  Eld.  B.  G.  Goi  r. 

The  Church  b  d,  since  her  organization, 

five  seasons  of  special  revival.      Eighty  have 
added  by  baptism,  mostly  from  the  Sabbath  School, 
which  has  been    continued  from    the    organization. 
Thirty  of  our  number  have  been  excluded,  twi 
whom  have  been  restored;  ten  have  died;  our  pres- 
ent nnmber  is  sixty-eight 

Elder  C.  Leffinuwei.l,  is  Pastor,  and  Wm.  P. 
Rogirs,  Clerk. 


BAPTIST  CHURCH,  CHI 

>n  i»t*  this  Cburcb  took  place  April 
10th,  1833.     Tbatf 

i|    place  IB   II 
Church  has  hf-n  successi\  i'.-istorol 

w 

!>••,]  H.  Tivlor,  AbflJ 
rows,  Ahkm  I>   W 
i  ton. 

I  -  paw- 

ed through  a  Ml  rela- 

iH'ii,  hut  the  Lord  lii>  ptocpctcd  dm  labofi  of  hi* 

servants.       BOTOrt]    proeiooi    rewval    seasons    have 

1,  and  the  Church  has   I 
fast  in  the  ordinance* tod  doctrine 
-       .  -two  have  been  ad 

ten;    .  tiooed ;    12 

have  been  dropped   or  excluded,  ami  1-1  blTi 
removed  by  death.       !!!■!.    A.    I>.    Wati. 
them  in  1849,  u   lb  r   Pool    .      -  I8ti>,  the 

Church  bai  been  h  tiding  on,  tlthoug 

•  I  part  of  the  tune. 

able  labor-    I    1    LAC  CBBU  III 
Pastor,  and  enjoy  a  state  of  prosperity.      GlOt  W. 
Smith,  is  Clerk. 


BAPTIST  CHURCH,  LAKE'S  POND. 


in  the 
Spring  an.!  E  I*  1841,  n  ith  i 

of  religion  the  brethren  and  friendi  thought  the 

near  it  hand   ■  ■  I  I 

well  a*  their  nsefulni  n?enience,  demanded 

in  this  place  an  independent  Baptist  Church.      Ac- 
cordingly, .-ift«-r  iiiin-h  prayer  and  deliberation,  twenty* 

i  • 

Baptiat    Church   in  Watc-rf- >r<],  made    application   for 

of  fellowship  and  di 
which  arere  granted  :  and  on  the  18th  of  June,  18  1'-. 
nit"  an  independent  I  took 

the  M  itiat  Church." 

On  the  31st  of  August  •  they  were  pub- 

licly recognised  as  such.     September  followii 
application,  they  were  received  into  the  Nee  i. 

don  Association. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  Bro.  Gurdo.n  T.  (mm 
TF.lt.  Was  Ordained  their  Pastor.       At  the  same  time, 
brethren  Amos   Crocker  and  Elias  P.  Iluynes,  were 
ordained  Deacons. 

In  the  Winters  of  1843  and   1844,  they  built  a 
commodious  house  of  worship,  which  was  opened 


LI8 
for  the  worship  of  God,  tbi  99th  of  M 

July   5,    1^17.    I.r'thr.n    F./rki.-l    Austin   ami    1'     l» 

Tins  Church  bai  ln<l  four  minifter*,  i  i     I 
Gordon  T«  ( 

TboOMI  Btfbar,  nn«l  I-    bV 
I- 

•  with    a  D1 

:'     I 

i  11. 


BAPTIST  CHURCH,  GREENVILLE. 


The  History  of  the  Baptist  cause  in  (Jrccnville, 
properly  commence  a  with  the  organization  of  the 
Central  Baptist  Church,  in  18  \0.  At  that  time,  there 
were  only  a  few  families  either  connected  with,  or 
favorable  to  the  Baptists;  and  the  most  of  thei 
became  connected  with  the  C  1  Church,  Nor- 
wich. These  brethren  occasionally  held  i  \ 
prayer  meetings,  and   stl  leetings   on  the 

Sabbath,  in  the  I 

In  the  Summer  of  1841,  there  was  an  inter 
revival  of  religion  in  the  place,  and  many  were  con- 
verted to  God  ;  and  altli  fill  inlluence 
was  exerted  against  our  denomination,  yet  the  most 
of  the  com  I  tral  Church.  Prayer 
meetings  were  thei  iblished  on  Sun- 
day and  \V  Dg8,  which  were  well  at- 
tended and  very  intei  And  n<  t withstanding 
the  ground  was  prc-occupied  by  thi  I  itional 
Church,  who  controlled  nearly  all  the  wealth  and 
influence  of  the  place:  and  by  the  >  ■-.  who 
had  had  a  Church  formed  here  for  several  years,  yet 
our  numbers  gradually  increased. 

In  the  Autumn  of  1844,  it  was  thought  expedient 
to  hold  meetings  here  on  Lord's  day,  at  least  during 
the  Winter;  and  if  the  design  seemed  to  be  favored 


120 

of  the  Lord,  to  proceed  to  establish  a  Baptist  Church 
the  coming  Spring  or  Summer. 

the  scnrices  of  Bro.  Asa  Robinson 
were  ei  etil  the  tirst  of  April.    We  beld  our 

■  A  House,  tad  wore  obliged  to 
■eel  tii<i  room  oa  Batnrdav  iftornoon,  removing  the 
seats  again  on  Monday  morning.      An   inter 
congregition  «;is  toon  gathered,  end  a  ilouri>hing 
Sabbath  School  •  I ;  and  so  evidently  did  our 

enterpi  milee  of  Heaven,  that 

we,  after  i  ration,  ini  il 

B.  Cheney  to  take  charge  of  the  young-  interest, 
with  n  view  o\'  JMHMfflriffg  PaftOf  ol   the  CbOfCfa 

form'  il.    lie  accepted  oni 

his  labors  among  Of   in  April,  1**43,  under  anoour* 

-  circumstances.  A  Churrh  of  100  members 
was  immediately  formed,  and  IB  Ifav  was  duly  recog- 
nized according  to  the  usages  of  our  denomination. 
The  congregation  continued  to  increase  until  our 
place  of  worship  was  too  strait  for  us,  and  we  there- 
upon resolved,  after  counselling  and  praying  together, 
to  arise  and  build  a  house  for  the  Lord. 

A  subscription  was  opened  and  circulated,  and 
about  $1400  was  subscribed.  A  neat  and  comino 
dious  house,  such  as  the  circumstances  eecmed  to 
demand,  was  erected,  and  dedicated  to  the  worship 
of  Almighty  God,  February,  1846.  The  house  cost 
$0910;  the  lot  on  which  it  stands,  was  purchased 
|9G0;  and  being  unable  to  collect  the  whole 
amount  subscribed,  a  debt  was  left  upon  the  Church 
of  over  $2000. 


121 

There  has  been  no  very  general  revival  in  Oris 
place  since  the  Church  was  organized  ;  yet  God  has 
graciously  remembered  his  cause  here,  and  granted 
us  seasons  of  refreshing  from  his  presence.  Bro. 
Cheney  having  performed  the  duties  of  an  under 
shepherd  for  twi  d,  and   closed  his  la- 

bors amontr  us  the  last  Sabbath  in    March;   nnd  Eld. 
\    Mizzv    having    accepted    our    unanimous 
call  to  th"  P  of  tli-'  Church,  entered  upon  its 

duties  th"  first  Sabbath  in  April,  1847.      Bro.  Muzzy 

still  continues,  having  entered  npon  the  fourth  year 
of  bis  ministry  among  US,  laboring  in  word  and 
doctrine. 

Since  our  existence  as  a  Church,  we  have  receiv- 
ed to  our  fellowship  100  persons  by  letter  and  by 
baptism;  but  from  the  unsettled  character  of  a  fac- 
tory village,  and  from  we  have 
had  to  dismi  number  of  our  esteemed  breth- 
ren, who  have  been  obliged  to  seek  employment  in 
other  places.  And  while  our  con^ro-jation  has  been 
good,  and  for  a  year  past  better  than  usual,  we  have, 
as  a  Church,  suffered  much,  and  been  really  weaken- 
ed by  the  changes  that  have  taken  place. 

We  have  also  been  called,  during  the  short  period 
of  our  existence,  to  dismiss  several  of  our  brethren 
to  join  "the  General  Assembly  and  Church  of  the 
first  born,"  in  heaven.  And  others  have  gone  out 
from  us,  although  but  a  few,  whom  we  have  been 
compelled  to  cut  off. 

During  the  Summer  and  Fall  of  1848,  the  base- 
ment of  our  Meeting  House  was  finished  off,  making 


122 

a  most  pleasant  and  commodious  Lecture  Room,  at 
an  expense  of  over  $200,  which  was  wholly  paid  by 
the  Ladies'  Sewing  Society. 

The  first  Deacons  of  the  Church  were  D.  3.  \V  hee- 
ler and  F.  I.  who,  with  their  families,  left 
the  village  in  lea  than  a  \  »*ar  after  their  appointment. 
Brethren  G.  E.  Wait,  and  R.  Barber,  have  since 
been  appointed  to  serve  the  Church  in  that  impor- 
tant office.  The  Gospel  of  the  kingdom  is  preached 
in  the  course  of  the  year  to  a  large  number  of  per- 
sons :  many  of  whom  listen  to  the  preached  word 
here,  for  a  few  months  only.  Therefore  but  a  little 
of  the  seed  sown,  springs  up  and  ripens  on  this  field, 
but  is  scattered  to  the  four  winds.  May  it  be  gath- 
ered for  the  great  harvest  day  ! 

The  amount  of  our  debt,  and  the  condition  in 
which  it  was  left  at  first,  has  proved  a  source  of  great 
embarrassment ;  and  although  it  has  been  reduced 
a  little,  it  threatens  to  become  still  a  more  grievous 
burden  to  a  Church,  of  which  every  member  is  poor 
indeed,  and  two-thirds  of  whom  are  females.  At 
present,  the  only  rational  hope  of  the  prosperity  of 
the  cause  here,  under  God,  seems  to  lie  in  the  timely 
aid  rendered  by  sister  Churches,  and  friends  abroad. 

Present  number  of  members,  161.  Lawso.n  Muz- 
zy, Pastor ;  F.  D.  Adams,  Clerk. 


BAP.  CHURCH,  WINDHAM  CENTRE. 


According  to  the  best  information  within  our  reach, 
there  is  no  doubt  that  the  seed  was  here  sown,  and 
began  to  germinate  amid  that  well  known  struggle 
for  religious  liberty  carried  on  throughout  New  Eng- 
land, which  resulted  in  the  bursting  of  the  shackles 
that  bound  Church  and  State  together,  and  left  the 
Church  to  take  care  of  itself. 

Owing  to  the  uncongenial  soil  and  climate,  the 
growth  of  Baptist  principles  has  been  extremely  slow, 
and  the  Gospel  trump  blown  by  Baptist  preachers 
has  still,  within  a  few  years  past,  been  but  seldom 
heard  in  this  vicinity. 

The  beloved  but  lamented  Kneeland,  during  his 
short  but  successful  ministry,  occasionally  visited 
this  portion  of  his  extended  parish,  cheering  the 
hearts  of  the  few  disciples  that  were  scattered  here 
and  there,  and  preaching  the  word  of  life  to  all  that 
would  hear. 

During  the  year  1842,  Bro.  H.  Bromley,  then 
Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Mansfield,  visited  this 
place  from  time  to  time,  and  the  few  brethren  were 
encouraged  to  establish  regular  meetings  through 
the  Winter,  which  were  blessed  to  the  good  of  some 
souls.  Our  meetings  at  this  time  were  held,  for  the 
most  part,  in  the  hall  of  the  tavern,  which  was  kind- 


m 

ly  opened  for  our  use.  Having  obtained  a  leaso  for 
this  purpose,  we,  during  the  Winter,  repaired  and 
fitted  up  the  ppper  part  of  the  District  School  House, 
and  in  the  Spring  of  1843,  invited  Bro.  Bromley  to 
labor  with  us.  Bro.  Bromley  entered  upon  this 
field  of  labor,  April  1.  and  continued  with  us  for  one 
year.  Soon  aftor  his  coming  among  us,  it  was  evident 
that  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  in  our  midst;  and  he 
was  permitted  during  the  year,  and  shortly  after,  to 
baptize  about  twenty.  During  the  following  year, 
we  had  only  occasional  supplies. 

May  5,  1844,  we  were  received  as  a  branch  of 
the  Lebanon  Church,  with  liberty  to  hold  meetings, 
have  the  ordinances  administered,  and  to  receive 
members. 

April  1,  1845,  Eld.  R.  V.  Lyon  came  among  us, 
and  labored  one  half  of  the  time,  for  about  six 
months.  About  this  time,  a  cloud,  which  had  been 
for  some  time  gathering,  burst  upon  us,  for  which 
we  were  wholly  unprepared  By  a  vote  of  the  Dis- 
trict, the  old  School  House  was  demolished,  in  or- 
der to  give  place  to  a  new  one.  But  we  soon  learn- 
ed that  these  things  happened  for  the  furtherance  of 
the  Gospel. 

Though  driven  from  the  place  that  had  become 
endeared  to  us  as  our  Bethel  ;  though  cast  down,  we 
were  not  destroyed.  God  provided  a  refuge  for  his 
people,  and  we  found  another  School  House,  owned 
by  a  citizen  of  the  place,  where,  through  the  Win- 
ter, we  met ;  and  enjoyed  the  ministry  of  the  word 


125 

from  Bro.   B.  M.  Alden,  who,  providentially,  came 
among  us  about  the  time  R.  V.  Lyon  left. 

In  the  Spring  of  1846,  we  commenced  erecting1 
our  house  of  worship;  holding  our  meetings  until 
its  completion,  in  the  Town  Hall.  In  November  of 
this  year,  3.">  brethren  and  sisters,  members  of  regu- 
lar Baptist  Churches,  who  resided  in  this  vicinity, 
met  together,  when  the  incipient  measures  were  ta- 
ken for  forming  an  independent  Church,  to  be  called 
the  "Windham  Centre  Baptist  Church." 

December  9,  our  House  of  Worship  was  opened 
with  appropriate  religious  services,  and  the  follow- 
ing day  we  were  publicly  recognized  as  a  regular 
Baptist  Church,  by  a  Council  convened  for  that  pur- 
pose. Soon  after  we  entered  our  House  of  Worship, 
it  was  evident  that  God  accepted  the  offering,  and 
we  soon  heard  the  cry  of  the  mourner,  "  what  shall 
we  do." 

Bro.  R.  Russell  labored  with  us  in  connection 
with  our  Pastor  during  the  month  of  March  follow- 
ing, and  as  the  fruit  of  the  outpouring  of  God's 
Spirit,  we  were  permitted  to  welcome  twenty-one 
to  our  number. 

Bro.  Alden  labored  with  us  till  April  1,  1848, 
when,  at  the  request  of  the  Church,  Bro.  J.  M.  Phi- 
lips became  our  Pastor,  who  continued  with  us  till 
the  Summer  of  1850. 

We  groan  under  the  burden  of  a  debt  of  nearly 
$600,  while  we  find  ourselves  hardly  able  to  sustain 
the  stated  ministration  of  the  word  among  us. 

Our  present  number  is  59. 


Univen 

Sout 

Lib 


